Hi °C | Lo °C 
I do not believe that the flag of our nation should be coat-trailed, or used in a deliberate attempt to cause offence, but I am incensed by the decision of Belfast City Council on Monday night.
The Belfast Agreement, signed 15 years ago, was the 'great compromise'. In return for mandatory coalition government, all parties accepted a declaration that Northern Ireland's status would remain unchanged unless a majority willed otherwise.
Implicit in that is an acceptance of the symbols (including the Union flag) and traditions associated with that declaration.
It appears that Sinn Fein, supported by the SDLP and the Alliance Party, has succeeded in cherry-picking the Agreement by restricting the flying of our national flag over Belfast City Hall.
The Alliance-proposed 'compromise of the great compromise' is that, for just 17 days out of 365, the Union flag will be 'permitted' to be flown, while, for the remaining 348 days out of 365, republicans and nationalists can prohibit it. Some compromise.
The Alliance Party - not for the first time - has acted in the most despicable manner in their complete disregard for the traditions and feelings of the British majority. This is an anti-British party of muddled thinkers, who are completely devoid of principle.
When will the misguided electorate who vote Alliance wake up? Perhaps they should do the honest thing and vote SDLP/Sinn Fein?
PETER JOHNSTON
Belfast
