SF threat to oppose city status

Sinn Fein councillors in Lisburn have threatened to oppose any attempt by the council to retain city status once the new super councils are created in NI.

The party is angry it lost out on the mayor and deputy mayor positions at a council meeting on Monday.

The posts were filled by the DUP's Allan Ewart and Paul Porter.

Sinn Fein's Paul Butler had proposed his colleague Arthur Carson, but his bid was defeated by a majority of 18 votes to two.

Councillor Butler said Sinn Fein would block Lisburn's retention of city status if legislation was required at Stormont following the redrawing of council boundaries.

Unionist councillors dismissed the threat as bluff and said Lisburn's city status was not in danger

New mayor, Allan Ewart, added that Sinn Fein had excluded itself from the post by refusing to participate in council activities, including the raising of the union flag at a council ceremony involving the army and navy.

Sinn Fein said unionists used to use the IRA as an excuse for not sharing power and had "continued to move the goal posts".

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