Stormont bedecked like Middle Eastern Bazaar – But no Room for Royal Portrait

TUV MLA Jim Allister has expressed surprise that just days before the visit of HM the Queen to Northern Ireland Stormont is displaying a number of paintings in the Great Hall and a set of dried fish skins – but cannot find space for a portrait of the Queen.

By The Newsroom

Published 20th Jun 2012, 17:00 BST

Commenting Mr Allister said: “In February I along with other MLAs from across the Unionist family tabled a motion calling for the return of the Assembly’s Lydia de Burgh’s portrait of Her Majesty the Queen to Stormont, so that it could be displayed in the Great Hall.

In spite of assurances from the DUP representative on the Business Committee that he would press the matter it has never reached the floor of the Assembly.

“However, Stormont in the meantime has had constant exhibitions and currently has found room to display a bizarre set of dried fish skins in the Great Hall.

“It would seem that Stormont is quite happy to bedeck Stormont like a Middle Eastern bazaar but cannot find room for a portrait of HM the Queen – either on the Order Paper or on the wall.”