DUP accuses other parties of Irish language ‘carve-up' after Belfast Council spending agreement
At the July meeting of the full Belfast Council, held on Tuesday evening elected representatives agreed a Sinn Féin proposal on how to use the £2,940,000, underspend from last year's net expenditure budget.
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The National
42 minutes ago
- The National
Banning Orange marches would be bad idea
As a republican socialist from an Irish Catholic tradition who supports Celtic FC, Scottish independence and a united Ireland, it should go without saying that I fundamentally disagree with the pro-Union, pro-monarchy ideology of the Orange Order. But I also fundamentally disagree with the notion of banning the Orange Order, for both practical and principled reasons. Practically, it would not diminish sectarianism. It would have the opposite effect. Numbers attending these annual rituals have declined steeply during my lifetime. Until recently, most people were unaware of the existence of Kneecap and Bob Vylan. Today, thanks to the ham-fisted authoritarianism of Keir Starmer, the BBC and the police, their popularity has soared along with their notoriety. READ MORE: Court bid to block Palestine Action terrorist ban fails There are also broader principles at stake. By demanding that the state use its powers against organisations we find offensive, we legitimise the accelerating trend towards repression sweeping the globe. The overwhelming vote in the House of Commons this week to ban Palestine Action is a chilling warning of what we are up against. Those of us who support an independent Scotland should not mimic the right. Authoritarianism is a hallmark not of strength and confidence but offweakness. The green, white and orange tricolour was adopted as the national flag of Ireland by the insurgent republican movement in 1919 to symbolise peace and unity across the religious and cultural divide. Like it or loathe it, Orangeism is part of the identity of a significant minority of Scots. A confident, modern nation should be prepared to live with that. It should guarantee protection of the rights of minority groups irrespective of whether they meet with our approval. Yes, many people are offended by Orange marches. No doubt I will be deluged with objections that those involved in the Orange Order are bigots and knuckle-draggers who don't belong in a forward-looking Scotland. The behaviour of some who turn out to support marches – invariably intoxicated – has contributed to the stereotype. The truth is many Orange Order members are embarrassed by the conduct of those they call the 'hangers-on' because it undermines their quest for respectability. To tar everyone with the same brush because of the moronic behaviour of some is unfair – and the same point applies to all organisations, from football clubs to political parties. It also fails to understand the complexities of identity, community, friendship, loyalty and tradition. I grew up and spent most of my adult life in some of the poorest parts of Glasgow where Irish republicanism and Orange loyalism have long co-existed side by side. I've attended Orange funerals. I stood on Poll Tax human barricades alongside staunch loyalists and ardent Irish republicans. I raised money outside Celtic Park with striking miners from Ayrshire who were careful to conceal their King Billy tattoos. I had members of the Orange Order, along with Irish republican activists, display posters in support of my socialist candidacy in a council by-election in Govan years before the peace process in Northern Ireland. (Image: David Wardle) Yes, there is a core of anti-Catholicism in the Orange tradition. Importantly, for the official Orange Order, it is directed at the institution and the doctrines of the church, rather towards individual Catholics And even then its criticisms are mild in tone and content compared, for example, to the views expressed by Richard Dawkins, and many others of an atheist persuasion. Ten years ago, there was a great outpouring of support among liberals and leftists for the Paris-based magazine Charlie Hebdo after 12 of its employees were massacred by two Muslim gunmen. The cartoons that provoked the atrocity were more brutally offensive by far in their depiction of Islam than any criticism of Catholicism ever made by the Orange Order. But the 'Je Suis Charlie' upsurge was not an expression of agreement with the vile cartoons. It was a defence of the right of free expression. There are more insidious and dangerous forces to be concerned about than the dwindling and ageing membership of the Orange Order. Who do we proscribe next? Nigel Farage and Reform UK? Or is Nigel, with his millions of voters and huge public profile, too big to ban? So, like Keir Starmer, do we just concentrate on the easier targets? These are just the questions we need to address before playing with fire. Much of the wisdom of the ancient Greeks is still highly relevant today, so be very careful what you wish for, as they warned.
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Sally Rooney will remain ‘committed supporter of Palestine Action', court told
The Irish author said in court documents that the ban would prevent her from speaking at future public events as she 'could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles' if it comes into effect at 12.01am on Saturday as planned. If the ban does come into effect, it would make membership of, or support for, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Rooney has provided support for a legal claim by Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, against the Home Office, over the decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Ms Ammori asked a High Court judge on Friday to temporarily block the move from becoming law over the weekend, ahead of a bid to be given the green light to challenge the Government's decision later this month. But in a ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain refused to block the ban, stating that any harm caused is 'insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force'. Barristers for Ms Ammori are seeking to appeal against the ruling on Friday evening. In her witness statement, cited in Mr Justice Chamberlain's judgment, Rooney said the 'cultural effects' of Palestine Action becoming proscribed 'could not be easily mended'. She said: 'Though I am based in Ireland, my work is published in the UK. My novels regularly appear in bestseller lists, and I often travel to Britain to speak in public about my work. 'I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action. 'If… that support is criminalised, I will effectively be prevented from speaking at any future public events in the UK, since I could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles in public. 'If I continue to voice support for Palestine Action from my home in Ireland, what are the likely consequences? Will I be denounced publicly by the Prime Minister? 'Will bookshops go on stocking the work of an author the Home Secretary has branded a 'terrorist' simply for supporting a protest group? 'The BBC has adapted two of my books for television; both series are presently promoted on the iPlayer service. Normal People, which I co-wrote and produced, was the BBC's most-streamed series in 2020, with over 62 million views. 'My beliefs have not changed since the making of that series, and I have done nothing but continue to express them. 'If the expression of those beliefs becomes a terror offence under UK law, would the BBC continue to screen and promote my work? 'Is it likely that I could ever again collaborate with British public institutions like the BBC as I have done in the past? 'The cultural effects of proscription could not be easily mended, even if the Home Secretary later changed her mind. 'For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences. If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday after the order was signed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (PA) 'It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists. ''Terrorism' is not a trivial word.' In written submissions for Friday's hearing, Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, said that Rooney 'will continue to voice her support from Ireland' for the group. He said: 'Given her public support for Palestine Action… she is concerned that being labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' would have serious impacts on her ability to collaborate and publicise her work.' He continued: 'Ms Rooney notes that 'countless artists, writers and members of the public support direct action against complicity in what Israel is doing in Palestine', including Juliet Stevenson, Paul Weller, Tilda Swinton, Brian Eno, and other signatories to an open letter dated 30 June 2025.' If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday, after the order was signed by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe the direct action group last month, after two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an action claimed by Palestine Action.
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Leader Live
Sally Rooney will remain ‘committed supporter of Palestine Action', court told
The Irish author said in court documents that the ban would prevent her from speaking at future public events as she 'could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles' if it comes into effect at 12.01am on Saturday as planned. If the ban does come into effect, it would make membership of, or support for, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Rooney has provided support for a legal claim by Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, against the Home Office, over the decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Ms Ammori asked a High Court judge on Friday to temporarily block the move from becoming law over the weekend, ahead of a bid to be given the green light to challenge the Government's decision later this month. But in a ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain refused to block the ban, stating that any harm caused is 'insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force'. Barristers for Ms Ammori are seeking to appeal against the ruling on Friday evening. In her witness statement, cited in Mr Justice Chamberlain's judgment, Rooney said the 'cultural effects' of Palestine Action becoming proscribed 'could not be easily mended'. She said: 'Though I am based in Ireland, my work is published in the UK. My novels regularly appear in bestseller lists, and I often travel to Britain to speak in public about my work. 'I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action. 'If… that support is criminalised, I will effectively be prevented from speaking at any future public events in the UK, since I could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles in public. 'If I continue to voice support for Palestine Action from my home in Ireland, what are the likely consequences? Will I be denounced publicly by the Prime Minister? 'Will bookshops go on stocking the work of an author the Home Secretary has branded a 'terrorist' simply for supporting a protest group? 'The BBC has adapted two of my books for television; both series are presently promoted on the iPlayer service. Normal People, which I co-wrote and produced, was the BBC's most-streamed series in 2020, with over 62 million views. 'My beliefs have not changed since the making of that series, and I have done nothing but continue to express them. 'If the expression of those beliefs becomes a terror offence under UK law, would the BBC continue to screen and promote my work? 'Is it likely that I could ever again collaborate with British public institutions like the BBC as I have done in the past? 'The cultural effects of proscription could not be easily mended, even if the Home Secretary later changed her mind. 'For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences. 'It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists. ''Terrorism' is not a trivial word.' In written submissions for Friday's hearing, Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, said that Rooney 'will continue to voice her support from Ireland' for the group. He said: 'Given her public support for Palestine Action… she is concerned that being labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' would have serious impacts on her ability to collaborate and publicise her work.' He continued: 'Ms Rooney notes that 'countless artists, writers and members of the public support direct action against complicity in what Israel is doing in Palestine', including Juliet Stevenson, Paul Weller, Tilda Swinton, Brian Eno, and other signatories to an open letter dated 30 June 2025.' If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday, after the order was signed by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe the direct action group last month, after two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an action claimed by Palestine Action.
