Hi °C | Lo °C I refer to your article "Confusion hits UUP as MLA claims party policy supports flying flag for 17 days" (10th December) which suggests that this party's policy accepted the designated days policy proposed by Alliance in Belfast City Council last week.
In the light of this revelation one has to ask why UUP leader Mike Nesbitt would publicly take an entirely different view ie that the year round display of the flag was now a necessary requirement .
The DUP/UUP in Lisburn supported a "designated days" policy some years ago. This remains its position. Among those present (and apparently not objecting) was Minister Poots who, having apparently recently realised that the same "designated days" policy applies at Stormont, now wants it to be reversed in line with the demands of the protesters on our streets.
Another prominent critic of the Belfast City Council decision is Billy Hutchinson of the PUP who (before he lost his council seat) had also supported a "designated days" policy, something by his presence at the protests at City Hall he apparently now repudiates.
Leadership is not about following the crowd or seeking to apply the lowest common denominator. It is about showing a way forward at a time when our economy is suffering from recession and the negative effects of violence and thuggery on our streets.
TOM Campbell
Alliance
