Video interview with Billy Hutchinson, leader of the PUP, in December 2012. On 3 December Belfast City Council voted to only fly the Union flag above City Hall on designated days rather than the entire calendar year. The motion was supported by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party. This decision led to public protests by sections of the unionist community across Northern Ireland, but particularly in Belfast, during December 2012 and early January 2013. In some areas PSNI members were attacked and death threats were sent to Northern Ireland politicians. Two DUP members were also warned of death threats apparently from dissident republicans during this period. In this interview Hutchinson discusses unionist responses to the flag issue and contemporary politics in Northern Ireland.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 12 December 2012
Name of First Interviewee: Billy Hutchinson
Role at time of Interview: Leader of the PUP
Purpose: News
Media: Audiovisual
Copyright:
Link: Watch the interview
Time Period covered: 2012
Key Individuals: Billy Hutchinson
Key Words: PUP, flag, PSNI, Sinn Féin, culture, dissident republican, religion