News of the Stone of Destiny’s return to Perthshire was widely welcomed this week.
Even the city’s football team got in on the act.
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St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown told the PA : “This is huge for the whole of Perth and Kinross that our region will be reunited with the Stone of Destiny, which is of immense historical significance to Scotland.
“As a football club at the heart of the community we added our voice to the campaign calling for its return and we are delighted it will finally happen.”
John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, said: “I am absolutely delighted by this news.
"As someone who has campaigned for the stone to return to Perthshire for almost a quarter of a century, it sometimes seemed like this day would never come.
Stone of Destiny to return home to Perthshire in historic move
“The return of the stone to its ancestral home will be a huge boost to the economy of Perthshire.
"Indeed, the Stone’s relocation to Perth will put it within 90 minutes driving distance of 70 per cent of Scotland’s population, and will surely lead to an increase in those visiting our city and the surrounding areas.”
Mid Scotland the Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has also been an advocate of the stone coming home.
He said: “This is fantastic news, not only for Perth but for the whole of Perth and Kinross – a real boost in dark times.
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"I have been one of the campaigners calling on the return of the Stone of Destiny to its spiritual home in Perth, and to be told that it will be is one of the highlights of 2020 – a truly historic occasion.”
Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Roseanna Cunningham said the stone was “back where it belongs”.
She added: “Variously known as the Stone of Scone, Jacobs Pillow, the Lia Fail, this piece of Perthshire sandstone is imbued with hundreds upon hundreds of years of Scottish history – whether or not you believe that the monks allowed Edward’s soldiers to take the real thing back in 1296.
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“I have absolutely no doubt that having the Stone back in Perthshire will be a huge boost to our local tourism and hospitality sector as it starts to build back once we are finally through the incredibly tough times brought about by the global pandemic."
