News
7th July 10
7/7/2010
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has described his
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has described his “bewilderment” and “anger” after DUP councillors failed to support his call for the Parades Commission to be scrapped during a council meeting on Monday. His comments came after Bernice Swift put forward a motion calling for the new parades legislation, which is currently in a consultation period, to be scrapped.
In a statement Mr Elliott said: “At the Council meeting, Bernice Swift put forward a motion calling for the scrapping of the proposed parades legislation. I suggested an amendment calling for a review of the legislation, which I feel has a number of faults, and also calling for the removal of the Parades Commission. Not only did the DUP fail to support me in this call, but they put forward an amendment of their own which had an inference of support for the legislation despite its obvious flaws, as did Sinn Fein. What they should now explain to the Unionist people is why they didn’t support me in calling for the Parades Commission to be scrapped when it has been such a pain for a very long time.”
“Many people will feel misrepresented by their failure to back my call, especially in a week when we hear about parades across Northern Ireland being restricted or refused outright. The new legislation certainly needs work, and I will play an active role in ensuring that we make it as practical as possible. However, what we all definitely want is an end to the Parades Commission, and that is what makes the DUP’s failure to back my call as bewildering as it does aggravating.”
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