Lord Mayor's Decision Appalling
ROBIN Newton East Belfast DUP Councillor has described the decision of the Belfast City Council Alliance group (May 2nd Council meeting) to turn down a request from the Ministry of Defence to fly the Armed Forces Flag for 6 days in June as appalling.
Robin Newton said,
"It is inexcusable that Lord Mayor Naomi Long joined with Sinn Fein and the SDLP to vote down the MoD's request. In doing so she has insulted all the brave young personnel who fight terrorism at home and abroad. To refuse to fly the flag for 6 days as asked for and propose one day is both cowardly and craven.
The men and women of our armed forces deserve our immense gratitude. They deserve to have their professional service to Queen and country properly acknowledged and the flying of the Armed Forces flag for 6 days should not be too much to ask. It is the very least Belfast City Council could do to show their gratitude to the injured and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Lord Mayor enjoys her freedom of speech and civic privileges only because generations of young men and women have fought to protect democracy. Her decision to refuse the MoD request is offensive and wounding to those who have served and those who are currently serving at home and abroad in defence of our freedoms."
