Closest matches to “Flag decision deeply divisive”
From other parties, ranked by how close their text is in meaning. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing. Include DUP · Back to the release
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Unionists to take Belfast City Council to High Court over Palestinian flag
TUV Councillor Ron McDowell says Belfast City Council has disregarded due process by voting to raise a Palestinian flag over City Hall from midnight, and that emergency High Court proceedings will be lodged to halt it. He also argues the council blocked lighting City Hall in Israeli colours after…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Unionists to take Belfast City Council to High Court over Palestinian flag (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast City Council should focus on core responsibilities and service delivery, not divisive symbolism
UUP MLA Andy Allen criticises Belfast City Council's vote to raise the Palestinian flag over City Hall, arguing councillors should prioritise council services and that the move is political theatre that deepens local division.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Belfast City Council should focus on core responsibilities and service delivery, not divisive symbolism (opens in a new tab)
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Flying Palestinian Flag Over City Hall Deepens Division Without Practical Benefit
UUP MLA Andy Allen says the decision to fly the Palestinian flag over Belfast City Hall has deepened division and provides no practical benefit, calling for careful flag policies and urging the Prime Minister to take diplomatic steps on the Gaza crisis.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Belfast City Council vote to raise Palestinian flag at City Hall Original release: Flying Palestinian Flag Over City Hall Deepens Division Without Practical Benefit (opens in a new tab)
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Palestine Flag Over Belfast City Hall
People Before Profit says the Palestinian flag flying over Belfast City Hall is a welcome gesture of solidarity, criticises the DUP and TUV for opposing it, and calls on Stormont Ministers to divest from companies it says are complicit in Israel's actions in Gaza.
International affairs Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: Palestine Flag Over Belfast City Hall (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast Flag Decision “Procedurally Unlawful” as Battle Moves to Appeal
TUV says a court ruling shows Belfast City Council's decision to fly the Palestinian flag was procedurally unlawful, and that standing orders letting a legal opinion decide minority safeguards will go to the Court of Appeal. Deputy leader Ron McDowell will write to the council seeking confirmation…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Palestinian flag decision court ruling Original release: Belfast Flag Decision “Procedurally Unlawful” as Battle Moves to Appeal (opens in a new tab)
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Palestinian flag to fly at Belfast City Hall later this month – Murphy
Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy welcomes council backing for his proposal to fly the Palestinian flag at Belfast City Hall on 29 November, marking a day for solidarity with Palestinians. He says the gesture reflects support for Gaza amid ongoing Israeli military action.
Community relations and legacy International affairs Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag flying proposal approved Original release: Palestinian flag to fly at Belfast City Hall later this month – Murphy (opens in a new tab)
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TUV welcome declaration on Palestinian flag case
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell welcomes the High Court declaration by Mr Justice McLaughlin that Belfast City Council's 1 December 2025 procedure on the Palestinian flag decision was unlawful and breached its standing orders. He calls it a serious finding and congratulates Ann McClure…
Local government Justice and policing Issue: High Court declaration on Belfast City Council Palestinian flag decision Original release: TUV welcome declaration on Palestinian flag case (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Councils can’t be held to ransom
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite says councils cannot be held to ransom after unionist and other parties blocked a council-backed flag-raising for Gaza solidarity at City Hall, calling it a culture war tactic and urging councillors to refocus on local issues.
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: de Faoite: Councils can’t be held to ransom (opens in a new tab)
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There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag
TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell welcomes the decision not to fly the Palestinian flag over Belfast City Hall, crediting the call-in mechanism with averting community tension. He accuses the motion's Nationalist and Alliance backers of attacking Israel rather than showing sympathy, and insists only…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall Palestinian flag motion called in Original release: There should only be one flag over City Hall – and it’s not the Palestinian flag (opens in a new tab)
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Say No to Abortion Illuminations on Belfast City Hall!
Aontú opposes Belfast City Council's decision to light up Belfast City Hall for International Safe Abortion Day, calling it shocking use of the building. It says Sinn Féin and the SDLP councillors who backed the lighting have abandoned pro-life principles and calls for support for mothers instead.
Health Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall lighting for International Safe Abortion Day Original release: Say No to Abortion Illuminations on Belfast City Hall! (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive"
SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA says the DUP’s motion to scrap Belfast City Council’s bilingual street‑sign policy is a deeply cynical, divisive attempt to use the Irish language as a political football and stir up community tensions.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: McGlone: DUP motion on Irish Language signage "deeply cynical and divisive" (opens in a new tab)
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Beattie welcomes special Belfast City Council meeting following Sinn Féin proposal
Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie welcomes a special Belfast City Council meeting on 29 November, marking the UN day for Palestinians, and calls for ceasefires, an end to the Gaza siege and the expulsion of Israel's ambassador.
International affairs Local government Issue: Belfast City Council special meeting on Palestinian solidarity day Original release: Beattie welcomes special Belfast City Council meeting following Sinn Féin proposal (opens in a new tab)
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Fountain bonfire a ‘naked display of sectarianism’ – Delargy
SDLP... no, Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy condemns a weekend bonfire in the Fountain area where Irish and Palestinian flags were burned, calling it sectarian and urging unionist politicians to publicly denounce it and back regulation of all bonfires.
Community relations and legacy Issue: Fountain area bonfire flag burning in Derry Original release: Fountain bonfire a ‘naked display of sectarianism’ – Delargy (opens in a new tab)
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De Faoite expresses concern about extension to Sunday trading in Belfast
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite opposes a Belfast council pilot that would halt enforcement against shops opening early on Sundays, arguing it benefits large retailers at workers' expense. He calls for alternative Sunday initiatives and questions the 2016-2017 surveys…
Economy and employment Local government Issue: Belfast city centre Sunday trading pilot scheme agreed Original release: De Faoite expresses concern about extension to Sunday trading in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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All sides must unequivocally condemn threats to residents by those unlawfully erecting flags, says Bradshaw
Alliance South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw condemns threats made against residents of a street near the Ormeau Road who complained about unwanted flags, and says the incident shows the need for legislation. She says attaching flags to street furniture is unlawful and criticises elected…
Community relations and legacy Justice and policing Issue: Ormeau Road area flag threats against residents Original release: All sides must unequivocally condemn threats to residents by those unlawfully erecting flags, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 15 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister questions why the DUP brought a Belfast City Council Irish language signage motion to the Assembly, which Alliance opposed. She says Stormont should focus on health and education, and calls on the DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approaches.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Conradh na Gaeilge survey on Belfast bilingual street signage Original release: Alliance calls on DUP and Sinn Féin to reflect on their approach to Irish language (opens in a new tab)
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Attempts to criminalise Palestinian solidarity movement shameful – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan condemns London's moves to outlaw Palestine Action and the PSNI's arrest of a woman in her 60s at a peaceful Belfast protest, calling the measures disgraceful and predicting they will fail.
International affairs Justice and policing Issue: PSNI arrest of woman at Belfast Palestine protest under Palestine Action proscription Original release: Attempts to criminalise Palestinian solidarity movement shameful – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to host Palestine solidarity event in Belfast
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney, MLA, says a solidarity rally for Palestine will be held in Belfast on 9 April at St. Mary’s College, urging an end to the Gaza conflict, calling for BDS and a Palestinian state.
International affairs Issue: Israel-Gaza war civilian casualties Original release: Sinn Féin to host Palestine solidarity event in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Hanna welcomes High Court ruling on Palestine Action
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP welcomes a High Court ruling that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful, while noting the ban stays until a further hearing. She says the party opposed the ban and calls on the UK Government to reflect on the decision.
Justice and policing International affairs Issue: High Court ruling on Palestine Action proscription unlawful Original release: Hanna welcomes High Court ruling on Palestine Action (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast City Council Irish Language Policy Making a Mockery of Consultation
TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell says Belfast City Council is imposing Irish street signs despite failing to reach the 15% support threshold in the consultation, calling the process an abuse of process. He claims the signage deters Unionist and Protestant residents from moving into areas…
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council Irish street signage decision after consultation Original release: Belfast City Council Irish Language Policy Making a Mockery of Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag
TUV Comber councillor Stephen Cooper condemns Alliance's use of the call-in process to overturn the council's vote for permanent Union Flag displays at all 13 Ards and North Down war memorials and the Newtownards council building. He says Alliance is undermining democracy and calls for the…
Community relations and legacy Local government Issue: Ards and North Down council Union Flag call-in decision Original release: Alliance seek to overturn democratic decision to fly Union Flag (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to host Palestine solidarity event in Belfast this week
Sinn Féin National Chairperson and South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney encourages attendance at a Palestine solidarity rally in St. Mary's College, Belfast, on Wednesday at 7pm, featuring Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot. He calls for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and…
International affairs Issue: Palestine solidarity rally with Ambassador Husam Zomlot in Belfast Original release: Sinn Féin to host Palestine solidarity event in Belfast this week (opens in a new tab)