“neither should loyalists use the flag issue as an excuse to stir up sectarian strife”

Paisley, K Reverend, scion of the founder of the DUP has had this to say on #flegs:

“Perhaps [UUP MLA] Tom Elliott is right when he says ‘people should not deliberately confuse sovereignty with identity’.

“However, neither should loyalists use the flag issue as an excuse to stir up sectarian strife, or to attack the PSNI, to the delight of dissident republicans.

“If they are as patriotic as they claim, then perhaps they should come to Britain and see how things are done here.

“The Union flag is not flown on public buildings on the mainland 365 days a year – not even from Buckingham Palace.

“But hardly a soul in England considers this an undermining of national sovereignty or detrimental to cultural identity.”

The Rev Paisley proposed a “compromise” in Belfast City Council, suggesting that it could fly the Cross of St Patrick on those days that are not designated for the Union Flag because “all sections of the community in Northern Ireland can identify with Patrick”.

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty