A CAMPAIGN headed by loyalist community worker Andy McCormick has been set up to "monitor media censorship" following criticism of the number of anti-Protocol voices on the BBC.
The campaign has been launched by Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS), and will be run by loyalist blogger and pound shop lawyer Jamie Bryson, pictured below, and Let's Talk Loyalism.
In a statement the group said it would "promote and protect our community's right to freedom of expression; challenge any illegitimate deplatforming of loyalist voices, and monitor media censorship".
Campaigners aim to hold meetings with political parties and media outlets. They will also offer media training in working class loyalist communities.
Earlier this week, Alliance leader Naomi Long said those opposed to the NI Protocol "seem to have a constant open mike on the BBC for example on an almost daily basis". Her comments came after SDLP's Matthew O'Toole questioned the "level of prominence consistently given to a small section of Hardline voices" on The Nolan Show and Radio Ulster.
The loyalist group said it was "both disappointing and equally concerning that public figures in NI have recently sought to stifle and censor debate by criticising media outlets for platforming certain members within our community". "We will continue to lobby for and champion the platforming of all unionist and loyalist voices and challenge, without fear or favor, any effort to censor or surpress the views of any person within our community."
It called on "all political parties in NI to publicly demonstrate their commitment to freedom of expression and in particular the freedom of the press to be inclusive of different viewpoints within society". Former sports minister Baroness Hoey, a cross-party peer, claimed earlier this week there is a "concerted political effort in NI - by nationalist parties and Alliance - to bully media like @StephenNolan into censoring unionist and particularly loyalist voices".
The Alliance Party rejected the claims. "Indeed, it was some loyalists who tried to surpress Alliance, with death threats, and attacks on our offices and homes of elected representatives," a party spokesman said.
With many thanks to the: Irish News and Claire Simpson for the original publication.
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