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| Belfast riots unacceptable, says Labour's Northern Ireland spokesman | Belfast riots unacceptable, says Labour's Northern Ireland spokesman |
| (3 months later) | |
| People in Northern Ireland need to know that rioting in Belfast is as unacceptable as it would be in any other UK city, the shadow secretary of state has said. | People in Northern Ireland need to know that rioting in Belfast is as unacceptable as it would be in any other UK city, the shadow secretary of state has said. |
| Vernon Coaker, Labour's spokesman on Northern Ireland, joined in the condemnation of the four weeks of disorder in Belfast and other parts of the province, during exchanges in the Commons. | Vernon Coaker, Labour's spokesman on Northern Ireland, joined in the condemnation of the four weeks of disorder in Belfast and other parts of the province, during exchanges in the Commons. |
| He told parliament: "The serious rioting, the attacks on the police and the threats against elected representatives have been appalling, including against the honourable member for Belfast East who has behaved throughout with real dignity and courage. | He told parliament: "The serious rioting, the attacks on the police and the threats against elected representatives have been appalling, including against the honourable member for Belfast East who has behaved throughout with real dignity and courage. |
| "This violence would not be acceptable in London. It would not be acceptable in Cardiff. It would not be acceptable in Edinburgh. And it is not acceptable in Belfast. People in Northern Ireland need to know that the UK government is giving this the highest priority – that Northern Ireland matters." | "This violence would not be acceptable in London. It would not be acceptable in Cardiff. It would not be acceptable in Edinburgh. And it is not acceptable in Belfast. People in Northern Ireland need to know that the UK government is giving this the highest priority – that Northern Ireland matters." |
| The Commons statement by Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, on the violence triggered by the union flag dispute at Belfast city hall, took place at the same time as a pan-unionist forum met to discuss how to defuse the issue that has led to six consecutive days of violence in the east of the city. | The Commons statement by Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, on the violence triggered by the union flag dispute at Belfast city hall, took place at the same time as a pan-unionist forum met to discuss how to defuse the issue that has led to six consecutive days of violence in the east of the city. |
| Representatives of loyalist paramilitaries are meeting unionist politicians, religious leaders and community activists under the banner of the Unionist Forum. | Representatives of loyalist paramilitaries are meeting unionist politicians, religious leaders and community activists under the banner of the Unionist Forum. |
| The forum will challenge the restrictions on the flying of the union flag in Belfast, through peaceful and political means, Northern Ireland's first minister said. | The forum will challenge the restrictions on the flying of the union flag in Belfast, through peaceful and political means, Northern Ireland's first minister said. |
| The Democratic Unionist party leader, Peter Robinson, said the forum of political and civic unionist leaders would also try to increase voter turnout in pro-union areas. | The Democratic Unionist party leader, Peter Robinson, said the forum of political and civic unionist leaders would also try to increase voter turnout in pro-union areas. |
| Unionist apathy during elections had partly led to the movement losing control of a number of councils, he added. Belfast, which was one of these councils, last month ended its policy of flying the union flag every day of the year. | Unionist apathy during elections had partly led to the movement losing control of a number of councils, he added. Belfast, which was one of these councils, last month ended its policy of flying the union flag every day of the year. |
| Robinson said all participants should share the core values of support for the maintenance of the union between Northern Ireland and Britain, as well as for a peaceful and democratic, non-sectarianism, commitment to a shared future and to "the successful operation of devolution in Northern Ireland". | Robinson said all participants should share the core values of support for the maintenance of the union between Northern Ireland and Britain, as well as for a peaceful and democratic, non-sectarianism, commitment to a shared future and to "the successful operation of devolution in Northern Ireland". |
| Northern Ireland's chief constable, Matt Baggott, is to discuss the impact of the rioting and street violence at a meeting of the policing board in Belfast on Thursday. He is expected to present the board with a report on the violence and the cost of the policing so far. | Northern Ireland's chief constable, Matt Baggott, is to discuss the impact of the rioting and street violence at a meeting of the policing board in Belfast on Thursday. He is expected to present the board with a report on the violence and the cost of the policing so far. |
| While Baggott's officers have faced a barrage of petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, bottles and other missiles on the frontline in loyalist districts of Belfast, the threat to police from republican dissidents remains strong. | While Baggott's officers have faced a barrage of petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, bottles and other missiles on the frontline in loyalist districts of Belfast, the threat to police from republican dissidents remains strong. |
| Tom Elliott, the Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said a number of police officers in his border constituency had been forced from their homes due to threats from anti-ceasefire republicans. | Tom Elliott, the Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said a number of police officers in his border constituency had been forced from their homes due to threats from anti-ceasefire republicans. |
| Elliott recounted the case of a female police officer who had to leave her home in Enniskillen two weeks before Christmas due to intelligence about a possible dissident republican attack on her. | Elliott recounted the case of a female police officer who had to leave her home in Enniskillen two weeks before Christmas due to intelligence about a possible dissident republican attack on her. |
| "For many years during the Troubles police officers and other members of the security services lived under a constant threat," Elliott said. "We thought we had moved away from that to a more peaceful society in Northern Ireland, but obviously we are getting back into a situation where those police officers feel threatened. They feel threatened on duty and, now, even off duty – so much so that they can't remain in their own homes." | "For many years during the Troubles police officers and other members of the security services lived under a constant threat," Elliott said. "We thought we had moved away from that to a more peaceful society in Northern Ireland, but obviously we are getting back into a situation where those police officers feel threatened. They feel threatened on duty and, now, even off duty – so much so that they can't remain in their own homes." |
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