Move to restore Queen's portrait for Jubilee
22 February 2012
TUV Leader Jim Allister, who has been campaigning for the restoration of historical artifacts to Stormont and who established that the Assembly owns but does not display a portrait of Her Majesty, has welcomed the fact that he has been able to table an Assembly motion on the subject with the support of MLAs from all unionist parties.
The motion reads as follows:-
That this Assembly, having regard to Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, calls on the Assembly Commission to recover the Assembly’s Lydia de Burgh portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and display it in the Great Hall in Parliament Buildings.
In addition to Mr Allister it has been signed by independent Unionists David McNarry and David McClarty and by two MLAs from each of the UUP and DUP; Danny Kinahan and Michael Copeland from the Ulster Unionists and Lord Morrow and Gregory Campbell from the DUP.
"It is now up to the Business Committee as to when, or whether, the motion is debated on the floor of the Assembly," said Mr Allister. "I trust it will not be blocked because this is an important matter that must be addressed. It would be a shocking indictment of Stormont if we pass through the Jubilee year, and probably a visit from Her Majesty, but never allow her portrait to hang in Parliament Buildings.
"I welcome the cross-unionist support for this initiative, but also say to nationalists that in any seat of government there is a rightful expectation that a portrait of the Head of State should be on display, not hidden away. This is not about domination. It's about doing what's right."
