Andy Allen MLA has criticised last night’s decision by Belfast City Council to rail through the flying of the Palestinian flag over City Hall, saying the council should be focused on delivering services, not engaging in divisive symbolism.

Andy Allen MLA said,

“Last night, Belfast City Council voted to fly the Palestinian flag over City Hall. This is nothing more than stunt politics from the very same people who regularly lecture others by saying ‘you can’t eat a flag’. When it suits their agenda, however, flag flying suddenly becomes a priority.

“The majority of people across Belfast have not asked for, nor do I believe they want, the Palestine flag flying over City Hall. That does not mean we cannot acknowledge the very real humanitarian suffering in Gaza, or be clear that the violence, mayhem and loss of innocent life on all sides must stop.

“At a time when people across Belfast are facing real pressures with council services, it is deeply disappointing that some councillors chose to use City Hall to pursue global politics rather than focusing on the job they were elected to do.

“Flying flags and passing motions may create headlines, but they bring no practical relief to innocent civilians overseas and do nothing to address the real pressures facing people here. Worse still, they risk turning human misery into political theatre and using international tragedy to widen divisions at home.

“I believe, and my party believes, in practical politics, delivering real, meaningful change for communities, not political stunts that sow further division. Belfast deserves better than this.”