Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I am pleased that my application to have Stormont illuminated tomorrow night to mark the centenary of the official opening of the first Northern Ireland Parliament by King George V has been approved. The building will be floodlight in blue from sunset tomorrow to celebrate this significant anniversary.
“A century ago Northern Ireland was making plans to welcome our Monarch with “unparalleled scenes of enthusiasm”, as Major Shillington put it when describing the scenes in an address to the Northern Ireland House of Commons on 23rd June 1921.
“Obviously Covid restrictions have curtailed what should otherwise have been large celebrations this year. However, the reluctance of the powers that be, at the behest of Sinn Fein, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in any official way, such as by a visit by Her Majesty the Queen to address the Assembly, is telling and has fed growing Unionist frustration in the last few months.
“Though it is a poor substitute at least the centenary will be marked in this small way after my successful application.”