Border poll 'yes' vote would require British parliament consent

A PRESSURE group has said a ‘yes’ result in any future border poll will need the consent of the British parliament.

   UVF mouthpiece loyalist Jamie Bryson 

               22nd September, 2022. 

Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS) made the submission as part of a recent Seanad Public Consultation Committee public consultation on the constitutional future of Ireland.

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement a referendum on the future of the north can be triggered by the secretary of state of the day.

     The vote wasn't going in favour of the         PUL community so when they were           losing the vote they packed it in early                      #PartitionHasFailed 

With nationalists continuing to push for unity and the results of the latest census expected today, which could show a Catholic majority in the north for the first time, momentum for a vote could gather pace.

     Looks very clear to me the PUL are           losing the NI argument and 101-years      has been long enough to wait for things    to change #BorderPoll #BorderPollNow                          #IrishUnity 

In a letter to the committee this month, UVPS said a vote held under the GFA “is not self-executing” and proposals must be put forward, which parliament can reject.

UVPS spokesman Jamie Bryson last night said: "It seems to me most nationalists, and probably the Irish government, don’t actually understand that the Belfast agreement doesn't in fact require the UK government of the day to give effect to the result of any border poll - the holding of which would entirely undermine peace in Northern Ireland.

"But rather merely to lay a proposal before parliament, which could legitimately reject it entirely consistently with the Belfast agreement."

UVPS has offered to provide oral evidence to the committee if invited.

With many thanks to the: Irish News and Connla Young for the original publication. 

Follow these links to find out more on this story: Unionist-dominated Ulster is over: Are we on a demographic march towards Irish reunification?

A growing majority in the North of Ireland think Brexit has increased the likelihood of a United Ireland

DUP being allowed to scatter Good Friday Agreement to the winds.

A PRESSURE group has said a ‘yes’ result in any future border poll will need the consent of the British parliament.

POUND SHOP LAWYER, BRYSON, SETS UP 'MEDIA MONITORING' GROUP!

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.