Robinson fury at UTV's 'insulting' poppy policy
ULSTER Television has come under fire for restricting its presenters from wearing poppies ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The DUP's Iris Robinson lambasted the local broadcaster, branding it "deeply insulting" that it has chosen to restrict employees from wearing a poppy on screen.
Unlike its counterparts on BBC NI's Newsline, UTV Live presenters have not been seen wearing the red flower, symbolic of those who lost their lives while serving their country.
Mrs Robinson, MP for Strangford, said: "When it is accepted tradition to display one's poppy in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday, their absence from the lapels of those appearing on UTV this week has been more than noticeable."
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for UTV said the company didn't have a ban on wearing poppies, but its policy was to limit poppy wearing from November 2 until Remembrance Sunday on November 11.
"This policy was devised to take account of the different attitudes in our community towards Remembrance poppies, and UTV respects the decision of our on-screen presenters to wear or not to wear a Remembrance poppy," she said.
In response to the statement, Mrs Robinson said: "(UTV stated] they had to be careful not to offend anyone. Of course for 'anyone' read 'republicans'."
She said it was a "sop to sectarianism and bigotry", and that it shows UTV are "unable to provide objective leadership" on the issue.
"While the rest of Ireland rediscovers its proud military past, UTV still feels obliged to give a nod to Sinn Fein's denial of the part played by Irishmen in defending democracy across the globe, in the uniform of the British Army," she said.
"Let us show a mature attitude to this serious matter, let UTV display some responsible leadership in regard to this important matter, and let them lift their restrictions on the wearing the poppy."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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