A potentially explosive Orange Order march planned days before the referendum lacks “any value whatsoever” — but was approved by Edinburgh councillors yesterday.

About 15,000 Protestant marchers are expected to roll through the Scottish capital on September 13 after the decision from the council’s licensing committee.

Convener and SNP councillor Gavin Barrie said that he did not believe “anyone on this committee thinks this parade adds any value whatsoever to the referendum debate and, if anything, detracts from the important issues that should be discussed.”