Twelfth 2026: Demand for 'British rights for British citizens' as Orange leaders highlight Irish Sea border
The “limbo” facing Northern Ireland since the imposition of the Irish Sea border was raised in speeches at Twelfth demonstrations across the province, with Orangemen and women hearing a demand for “British rights for British citizens”.
Post-Brexit arrangements on trade within the UK – as well as human rights commitments made between London and Brussels over Northern Ireland – have been a source of conflict within unionism and Orangeism in recent years.
Speaking in Rathfriland yesterday, the Orange Order’s new Grand Master, Most Wor Bro Harold Henning, addressed the Windsor Framework arrangements in his address.
“As unionists, we of course have many concerns about a range of political and social issues.
“The still unresolved outworkings of Brexit in this part of the United Kingdom must be addressed by our government. The citizens of Northern Ireland should no longer be deprived of the same rights as our fellow citizens in Great Britain.
“A popular unionist slogan in the past was – ‘British Citizens Demand British Rights’.
“We stand by that demand today and ask nothing more than that Northern Ireland is recognised and respected as a truly integral part of the United Kingdom – not left in limbo dealing with the complexities of European regulations and laws which continue to create difficulties for the movement of goods into Northern Ireland.”
At the Twelfth demonstration in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, the institution’s Deputy Grand Master, Rt Wor Bro Derek Reaney, told those gathered: “Our final Resolution on The State, acknowledges our British identity and reaffirms our commitment to our place within the United Kingdom.
“This Resolution highlights the importance of the Union in terms of economic stability and political security in a period of international uncertainty.
“But it also highlights the damage done to our Union by the demands of the European Union and especially the Irish government and nationalist politicians in response to Brexit, and the failure of our own government to treat us as equal citizens of the United Kingdom.”