Decide on name post-election: UUP

ULSTER Unionist Party (UUP) chiefs have called for any decision on the divisive bid to change the name of the city to "Derry" to be postponed by Derry City Council until after a Westminster election fearing nationalists and republicans will use the issue in forthcoming election campaigns.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Feb 2010, 12:21 BST

The party also applauded what they described as the "very significant" 9028 (74 per cent) of respondents to the recent Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) by Derry City Council on the controversial proposal to change the name of the City of Londonderry.

The party Executive issued a statement saying it fully supports the work carried out by the local Constituency Association of the Party, other political parties, loyal orders, community groups, and others in securing "this massive victory to the challenge on the historic name of Londonderry."

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It stated: "There is a requirement that Derry City Council now listens to this overwhelming statement and drops this divisive campaign, which has had major cost implications to the ratepayers of the City.

"We also note the conclusion of the Equality Commission, which states 'the Commission appreciates that Derry City Council wishes to promote and develop the City and the region.'

"'This aim however must not be pursued at the expense of good relations and community cohesion.' The Commission's view is that in this instance good relations have been insufficiently addressed by the Council."

The statement referred to Friday's Special Meeting of Derry City Council to discuss the application to the Privy Council to have the name changed and the fact it was rescheduled from November 2009.

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"The UUP feel that with the impending General Election this issue will be used by the majority Nationalist and Republican parties for electioneering purposes and will cause more division," the party stated.

"The UUP welcomes the excellent news that Londonderry has been short listed in the process to find the UK City of Culture 2013.

"As the final application is being prepared it requires that all communities are bought into this bid, and it is ill-timed that this name issue is being dealt with in an election contaminated process.

"The Executive requests that the high-wire election issues are taken out of this and that the DCC adjourn this matter until completion of the General Election."

Related topics:Ulster Unionist PartyDerry