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City Hall flag protest blocks Belfast city centre street | |
(34 minutes later) | |
May Street in Belfast has been completely blocked by several hundred protestors demonstrating against a council vote on flying the Union flag. | |
Councillors are debating whether or not to keep the flag flying on City Hall. | |
Currently, the flag is flown every day of the year at the building. Nationalist councillors want it removed, arguing this would create a more equal and neutral environment. | |
Unionist councillors accused Sinn Fein and the SDLP of "raising tensions". | |
The loyalist protesters gathered at the rear of city hall just before the debate was due to start. | |
Population shifts | Population shifts |
The proceedings are being streamed live on the council's website. | |
Belfast City Hall opened in August 1906 and the Union flag has flown from the landmark building for longer than a century. | Belfast City Hall opened in August 1906 and the Union flag has flown from the landmark building for longer than a century. |
It was first raised when Belfast was a mainly unionist city but in recent decades, population shifts have led to a rise in nationalist councillors and an end to unionist control. | It was first raised when Belfast was a mainly unionist city but in recent decades, population shifts have led to a rise in nationalist councillors and an end to unionist control. |
Combined, Sinn Fein and the SDLP now outnumber unionist councillors by 24 to 21. | Combined, Sinn Fein and the SDLP now outnumber unionist councillors by 24 to 21. |
Just over a week ago, Belfast City Council's policy and resources committee voted 11-9 in favour of removing the flag from the building completely. | Just over a week ago, Belfast City Council's policy and resources committee voted 11-9 in favour of removing the flag from the building completely. |
Balance of power | Balance of power |
Such a decision requires the backing of the full council, and that vote is due to be taken on Monday evening. | Such a decision requires the backing of the full council, and that vote is due to be taken on Monday evening. |
However, the Alliance party, which holds the balance of power within Belfast City Hall, is expected to offer a compromise. | However, the Alliance party, which holds the balance of power within Belfast City Hall, is expected to offer a compromise. |
The party is set to propose a motion that the Union flag be flown on 17 designated days a year - in line with the current flag policy at Stormont. | The party is set to propose a motion that the Union flag be flown on 17 designated days a year - in line with the current flag policy at Stormont. |
The flag debate has provoked fresh controversy in recent weeks, with Alliance accusing the DUP and UUP of "underhand tactics". | The flag debate has provoked fresh controversy in recent weeks, with Alliance accusing the DUP and UUP of "underhand tactics". |
Both of the main unionist parties were involved in the delivery of up to 40,000 leaflets that claimed Alliance had sided with nationalists on the issue. | Both of the main unionist parties were involved in the delivery of up to 40,000 leaflets that claimed Alliance had sided with nationalists on the issue. |
Emotive issue | Emotive issue |
The leaflet urged members of the public to contact the party by phone to express their views on flag policy. | The leaflet urged members of the public to contact the party by phone to express their views on flag policy. |
Alliance said its office staff were subjected to "many abusive and nasty" phone calls following the distribution of the flyers. | Alliance said its office staff were subjected to "many abusive and nasty" phone calls following the distribution of the flyers. |
In response to complaints from Alliance, the DUP said it had "nothing to apologise for" while the UUP said flag policy was an emotive issue for unionists. | In response to complaints from Alliance, the DUP said it had "nothing to apologise for" while the UUP said flag policy was an emotive issue for unionists. |
Both parties said they had advised anyone contacting politicians on the issue to be "respectful" at all times. | Both parties said they had advised anyone contacting politicians on the issue to be "respectful" at all times. |