Northern Ireland

Unionism should consider civil unrest in opposition to Boris Johnson's Brexit plan, says Orangeman

Reverend Mervyn Gibson
Reverend Mervyn Gibson Reverend Mervyn Gibson

A SENIOR Orangeman has suggested that unionism consider a campaign of civil disobedience in opposition to Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

Rev Mervyn Gibson said any protest needed to be lawful but did not specify what kind of action he was thinking about.

He told The View on BBC that unionism would be damaged if anyone broke the law.

There have been meetings on how best to oppose an "Irish Sea border" in the prime minister's deal.

Mr Johnson's proposals would involve customs processes in Britain that businesses in Northern Ireland fear would create extra administration.

It is designed to prevent any regulatory border.

Unionists do not want to see the north treated differently from the rest of the UK.

Retired Methodist minister Rev Harold Good, told the programme that he was concerned that "criminal elements" within loyalist paramilitaries might become involved if protests.

"There are other layers within loyalism who do no speak or act for the people I know within loyalism," he said.

"There are those criminal elements all too ready to seize on some opportunity and Brexit could all too easily become as excuse."

Police Chief Constable Simon Byrne has warned of loyalists' ability to bring large numbers onto the streets in protest.

The PSNI said it believed an anti-Brexit campaign could replicate the Union flag protests of 2012.