Should The Union Flag Be Kept Flying?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/09/ulster-union-flag-protests

While Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom surely they should be free to fly the flag?

If the flag has been flying everyday over Belfast city hall, why should it now only fly on certain days, and why isn't the British Government supporting the Loyalists in their protest?

[TWR]

All that trouble because some pillock said, "Pull it down" was it worth it? has Ireland had enough trouble, whoever give the order should be sacked.

[ichkeria]

It was a democratic vote of the Belfast City Council which resulted in it not being flown 365 days of the year. Why would the British government want to overrule this?

[sandyRoe]

It will still be flown on all the days(ER's birthday for example) that it would be in the rest of the UK. The protests about it are thought to be organised by one of the few terrorist groups still in operation, the UVF.

[friedgreentomato]

They have been brought in line with how the union jack is flown in other city/town halls and government buildings within the UK.

[IggyB]

The people of Belfast elected representatives, the proposition was made by one of those elected and a vote was taken... Its very mundane stuff but that's democracy and nobody should seek to curtail it, especially the British government.

[pdq1]

Its about time Ulster stops hanging on the coat-tails of mainland Britain and either goes for independence or amalgamate with Eire. Anyway are the protestants not descended from the Scots so really they have nothing to do with the English. As Scots want their independence maybe the vote should be arranged for them also.

[ichkeria]

Not all Ulster protestants are of Scottish descent.

Quite apart from anything else.

[friedgreentomato]

pdq1 sorry not all are ulster scots!!

[Duncer]

"one of the few terrorist groups still in operation, the UVF."

You are joking? Right?

They are all still in existence and working away quietly in the background.

[Duncer]

I believe the timing of the vote was ill-judged, mainly because the reaction was so predictable, and the not so hard to envisage protests have damaged city centre business in the run up to Christmas. Surely it could have waited until early next year? I can understand the increasing marginalisation felt by the Loyalist/Unionist community, but this is not the way to respond. It was, as others have pointed out, a democratic vote, and the flag will still fly on certain days.

I was in the city centre in Belfast and saw little or nothing of note, but then again, we left for the game at 11:30. I was in the Sandy Row/Donegall Road area that night and, mercifully, all was quiet.