Empey - NI needs Loyalism to Change
Responding to calls from Alliance Party MLA Naomi Long for the Ulster Unionst grouping on Belfast City Council to exclude Councillor Frank McCoubrey, UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey MLA has restated the UUP’s commitment to see loyalism commit to exclusively peaceful politics.
Sir Reg said, “Naomi Long’s call for the Ulster Unionist group on Belfast City Council to distance itself from Cllr McCoubrey is naïve in the extreme. At a time of great instability in loyalist communities, when clear leadership is required in order to bring an end to violence and criminality, Naomi Long and the Alliance Party appear to be only interested in further destabilising the situation.
“Cllr McCoubrey is amongst those who are seeking to ensure that loyalism makes the transition to exclusively peaceful and democratic politics. I have no intention of undermining those who are undertaking such work – work that is necessary if paramilitarism is to become a thing of the past throughout our entire society.
“Naomi Long’s comments are also surprising in view of the fact that the Alliance Party, when creating its ‘United Community’ grouping in the Northern Ireland Assembly, asked the PUP’s Dawn Purvis to join the grouping. Dawn, of course, refused. But it does suggest a degree of hypocrisy on the part of Naomi Long and Alliance.
“The recent disgraceful scenes in Carrickfergus and Bangor illustrate the need for all of loyalism to unambiguously commit to exclusively peaceful and democratic politics. A vital first step is decommissioning – as I and Party colleagues have clearly stated again this week. Northern Ireland needs peace, stability and order throughout the entire community. That is what I and the Ulster Unionist Party remain committed to achieving.”