Paramilitary-linked loyalist group aims to take Protocol battle to EU

A loyalist group with terrorist connections has met with the UK’s Brexit minister, and now aims to meet with one of the EU’s leading figures too.
By Adam Kula
Published 12th May 2021, 15:39 BST
Updated 12th May 2021, 22:39 BST
Pacemaker Press Belfast 13-10-2015: The new Loyalist Communities Council being formed. Pictured are Tony Blair's former Chief of Staff Jonathan Powell, PUP leader Billy Hutchinson and Jackie McDonald.Pacemaker Press Belfast 13-10-2015: The new Loyalist Communities Council being formed. Pictured are Tony Blair's former Chief of Staff Jonathan Powell, PUP leader Billy Hutchinson and Jackie McDonald.
Pacemaker Press Belfast 13-10-2015: The new Loyalist Communities Council being formed. Pictured are Tony Blair's former Chief of Staff Jonathan Powell, PUP leader Billy Hutchinson and Jackie McDonald.

The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), a group which has tried to bring together former members of the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, has been in existence since 2015.

Among its initiatives has been to replace paramilitary flags with more neutral unionist-themed ones.

A statement issued this afternoon reads in full:

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“The LCC can confirm that a small delegation of its members led by chairman David Campbell [who has no criminal / paramilitary ties himself] met with Lord Frost and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis on Monday.

“The delegation emphasised the need for significant change to the NI Protocol to bring it back into consistency with the Belfast Agreement and to remove the clear change in the status of Northern Ireland that has occurred due to the imposition of the Protocol.

“Members advised Lord Frost of the efforts they had to make to try and calm the wider unionist community and appealed to him to ensure that the Prime Minister honoured his commitments to seek, and if necessary unilaterally legislate, to reach an agreement on a workable alternative.

“The LCC also advised Lord Frost that they were seeking a meeting with EC Vice-President Sefcovic to ensure that he understands how the Belfast Agreement has been breached by the Protocol.”

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Click here: Ex-veterans minister Johnny Mercer gives explosive evidence about neglect of military welfare body

Click here: Ballymurphy – ‘Spare us the lecture Sinn Fein – you’ve zero moral authority’

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