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| Cross-community Alliance assembly member: united Ireland is viable option | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Alliance party's candidate for the European elections, Anna Lo, has caused a political furore and created a headache for the cross-community party by stating that she thinks a united Ireland is viable. | The Alliance party's candidate for the European elections, Anna Lo, has caused a political furore and created a headache for the cross-community party by stating that she thinks a united Ireland is viable. |
| Lo has sparked a storm by claiming a united Ireland would be "better placed economically, socially and politically". | Lo has sparked a storm by claiming a united Ireland would be "better placed economically, socially and politically". |
| Her remarks could damage the prospect of Alliance's only MP, Naomi Long, retaining her seat in the predominantly unionist and Protestant east Belfast constituency at the general election. | Her remarks could damage the prospect of Alliance's only MP, Naomi Long, retaining her seat in the predominantly unionist and Protestant east Belfast constituency at the general election. |
| Alliance has traditionally been a soft-unionist party that attracts liberal pro-union Catholics and Protestants among the middle classes in Northern Ireland. | Alliance has traditionally been a soft-unionist party that attracts liberal pro-union Catholics and Protestants among the middle classes in Northern Ireland. |
| In an interview on Thursday with the Irish News, Lo said: "I'm an honest person … I think it [Northern Ireland] is such a small place … to divide it up and the corner of Ireland to be part of the United Kingdom … it's very artificial." | In an interview on Thursday with the Irish News, Lo said: "I'm an honest person … I think it [Northern Ireland] is such a small place … to divide it up and the corner of Ireland to be part of the United Kingdom … it's very artificial." |
| The Hong Kong born member of the Stormont assembly also describes herself as "anti-colonial" – a remark that unionist opponents seeking to unseat Naomi Long in east Belfast seized upon. | The Hong Kong born member of the Stormont assembly also describes herself as "anti-colonial" – a remark that unionist opponents seeking to unseat Naomi Long in east Belfast seized upon. |
| The Ulster Unionist party's candidate for the European elections and sitting MEP, Jim Nicholson, challenged the Alliance party to clarify its position on Irish unity. | The Ulster Unionist party's candidate for the European elections and sitting MEP, Jim Nicholson, challenged the Alliance party to clarify its position on Irish unity. |
| Nicholson said: "Describing Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom as 'artificial' as Anna Lo has done, is another sign that the Alliance party is fast becoming a cold house for unionists. | Nicholson said: "Describing Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom as 'artificial' as Anna Lo has done, is another sign that the Alliance party is fast becoming a cold house for unionists. |
| "To believe that a united Ireland would be economically and politically viable is economically and politically naive … If Ann Lo's comments are reflective of the Alliance party's position, it can no longer claim to be a 'middle ground party'. I now call on the leader of the Alliance party, David Ford, to clarify the party's position on whether or not support for a united Ireland is now official." | "To believe that a united Ireland would be economically and politically viable is economically and politically naive … If Ann Lo's comments are reflective of the Alliance party's position, it can no longer claim to be a 'middle ground party'. I now call on the leader of the Alliance party, David Ford, to clarify the party's position on whether or not support for a united Ireland is now official." |
| Alliance has already been under political and physical pressure from extreme loyalists over the party's decision to back a move to restrict the flying of the union flag last year at Belfast. The council voted to change the policy of flying the union flag atop Belfast City Hall to 18 designated days to mark events such as the Queen's two birthdays. | Alliance has already been under political and physical pressure from extreme loyalists over the party's decision to back a move to restrict the flying of the union flag last year at Belfast. The council voted to change the policy of flying the union flag atop Belfast City Hall to 18 designated days to mark events such as the Queen's two birthdays. |
| The party defended move amid protests and petrol bomb attacks on its offices and councillors' homes in 2013. They said the policy of 18 designated days is no different from most other councils in the rest of the UK. Alliance also point out that they blocked a move by Sinn Féin and Social Democratic and Labour party councillors at Belfast City Hall to remove the union flag altogether from the council headquarters. | The party defended move amid protests and petrol bomb attacks on its offices and councillors' homes in 2013. They said the policy of 18 designated days is no different from most other councils in the rest of the UK. Alliance also point out that they blocked a move by Sinn Féin and Social Democratic and Labour party councillors at Belfast City Hall to remove the union flag altogether from the council headquarters. |
| However, Lo's latest comments will cause deep unease within the Alliance party, which holds its annual conference in east Belfast at the weekend and in the face not only of European but also local government elections. So far the party has not commented on whether it endorses or rejects her comments on a united Ireland. | However, Lo's latest comments will cause deep unease within the Alliance party, which holds its annual conference in east Belfast at the weekend and in the face not only of European but also local government elections. So far the party has not commented on whether it endorses or rejects her comments on a united Ireland. |