I wish Jeffrey Donaldson would focus on the very real issues affecting civil liberty for all our citizens rather than just trying to attack the Orange Order because it won’t back him.

The Orange Order’s “failure” to back the proposed new legislation on parading has left it “seriously disadvantaged” according to the DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson. Speaking yesterday after the Order decided to uphold its rejection of the Draft Public Assemblies Bill, the Lagan Valley MP said: “We are deeply disappointed that once again we are left with the Parades Commission for at least another year.”

I think what Jeffrey means is HE is “seriously disadvantaged” because the OO did not accept his bungled liberty-infringing deal with Sinn Fein on the matter of public assemblies! It’s curious but this is one of those issues where people across the political spectrum have united to disavow what Jeffrey and his pals “negotiated” as part of the Hillsborough roll-over. It’s not just Orange Order parades that would be threatened with this grievance-monger legislation but indeed ANY public assembly where people want to protest. 

Curious how Jeffrey does not see this but then again perhaps he has taken the stinging rejection of his inept attempt to legislate badly? Swallowing pride is always a tricky challenge.