Anderson to tell Strasbourg UVF and BNP involved in protests

LONDONDERRY MEP Martina Anderson is set to inform the European parliament in Strasbourg that the “Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and right wing British National Party (BNP) have been actively involved” in recent protests against Belfast City Council’s flag policy.

In a speech that will be delivered this evening Ms Anderson will tell parliamentarians: “Unionist politicians stirred up tensions in the run-up to the Council vote when they distributed 40,000 leaflets in Alliance Party colours calling on people to protest the change in policy on flying the Union flag on Belfast City Hall.

“This resulted in almost daily protests over the past six weeks, many of them violent and most of them illegal.

“Rather than Unionists political Leaders establishing a ‘Unionist Forum,’ what is needed is an all-party, cross community response to the flag protests and the violence.”

She will argue that the promise of the Good Friday Agreement has to be advanced.

“It is clear that the overwhelming majority of people want the Irish Peace Process supported and progressed. That’s what everyone should be working towards,” she intends stating.