Row breaks out after controversial loyalist invited to give evidence to Commons committee
3 min read
A row has broken out after a controversial loyalist was invited to give evidence to a Commons committee.
Jamie Bryson will be quizzed by members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee next week as part of their inquiry into how devolution in the Province could be made to work better.
Mr Bryson, who runs the Unionist Voice political blog, will appear alongside SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and former Independent Unionist justice minister Claire Sugden.
He rose to prominence five years ago over his part in protests against the limiting of the occasions when the Union Flag flies above Belfast City Hall.
In 2015, he was convicted of taking part in unlawful public processions as part of the campaign, with the judge at Belfast Magistrates Court saying his evidence "lacked any real substance or credibility on any of the issues relevant to the case".
Social media posts also appear to show him referring to the Pope as "the anti-Christ".
Committee member Conor McGinn said he was angered that not all MPs on it had been consulted before Mr Bryson was asked to give evidence.
The Labour MP for St. Helens North, who was brought up in Northern Ireland, told the Irish News: "I would be happy to meet with him individually and am interested to hear his views, but I cannot objectively see why he would be called to give formal oral evidence to a House of Commons committee inquiry on the governance of Northern Ireland.
"His appearance will undoubtedly lead to questions about the role of the committee at a very sensitive and important time, and highlight the fact that its make-up is not representative of the whole community in Northern Ireland."
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long had also been supposed to give evidence to the committee next week, but they announced today that they would now be boycotting the session over the row.
A spokesman for the committee defended Mr Bryson's appearance.
Speaking before the Alliance Party's withdrawal, he told PoliticsHome: "When we launch an inquiry we invite written evidence and Unionist Voice submitted evidence to us.
"In this particular session we're looking for a range of views on ways that the current situation in Northern Ireland can be changed. He is one of four on the panel and has attracted more attention than the others, but we're looking for a range of options, and that includes his views."
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