England will defend the Rugby World Cup in 2007

Former Scottish sport minister Mike Watson said singing God Save the Queen before matches did nothing to help break down "negative feelings".

The Labour MSP has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating England on Rugby World Cup success.

But he said England should produce an anthem of its own rather than using one which applies to the whole of the UK.

Mr Watson argued that God Save The Queen should only be used in events where Britain is competing, such as in the Olympics.

It does get up the noses of people in Scotland and Wales when England effectively suggest they are the United Kingdom Mike Watson MSP

"God Save The Queen is the national anthem of the United Kingdom, it's not the national anthem of any of the individual countries," he said.

"Scotland and Wales have their own national anthems and you can hear them before international matches.

"But at a time when I think there is greater warmth felt towards England in Scotland, I don't think the English help when they breast-beat before matches singing an anthem which is not the anthem of England.

"It does get up the noses of people in Scotland and Wales when England effectively suggest they are the United Kingdom.

"It's that sort of attitude that doesn't help break down the rather negative feelings some people in Scotland have towards England."

The MSP for Glasgow Cathcart said he hoped England would come up with its own anthem before defending the rugby crown in 2007.

No other MSPs have yet put their signatures to the motion from Mr Watson, who was Scotland's minister for culture, tourism and sport until May this year.

No-one from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was available for comment.

However, a spokesman for the Scottish Tory Party said: "There was a time when the Scottish Rugby Union also used God Save The Queen as a national anthem.

"The SRU chose to change this, as they were free to do.