Loyalist Communities Council

The Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) is an organisation in Northern Ireland focusing on the Unionist or Loyalist side of society.

The council was launched in 2015 by British Diplomat Jonathan Powell, whose diplomatic career in the UK had included roles of Downing Street Chief of Staff to Tony Blair and UK Special Envoy for Libya under David Cameron.[1] The council was founded after an 18 month process which included Powell, David McNarry (UKIP MLA and former UUP councillor and adviser to David Trimble) and Progressive Unionist Party leader Billy Hutchinson.[1] Among community representatives within the council are those representing the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando.[2]

Jonathan Powell was a leading diplomatic negotiator within the political and social peace talks in Northern Ireland which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.[3] Two years after the launch of the LCC in Northern Ireland, Powell was appointed Honorary Professor in the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen's University Belfast, founded in 2012 with aims to contribute to conflict transformation and social justice.[4]

The council was launched on 13 October 2015 at a press conference fronted by Powell, McNarry and Hutchinson in response to the perceived neglect and social and political disenfranchisement of working class loyalists. As well as political issues, conceived social focuses of the council are upon looking at and improving areas of disadvantage including education.[1][2]

The chairman of the council since its founding is David Campbell CBE. Campbell is a former UUP politician and chairman, a former Senior Policy Advisor and Chief of Staff to Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble and an Honorary Consul for Turkey in Northern Ireland as appointed by the Turkish President.[5][6]

On the council's launch Dr Ian McNie, Moderator of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland at the time, said of it: “We acknowledge the efforts made to encourage loyalist paramilitaries to participate constructively in an ongoing process towards a better society. This has to be a society in which more people feel included and engaged and where educational under-achievement and other disadvantages are tackled. Mindful of those who have suffered and continue to suffer much hurt and pain, it also has to be a society in which violence and criminality have no place whatsoever. Such activity needs to stop, if communities are not only to live in peace, but to flourish.”[1]

At the time of the council's launch, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson who would later become party leader said the Council "could be a positive step towards a more normal society. The fact that three paramilitary groups have given their backing to this initiative is a positive statement of intent that they are prepared to look at how we can move forward in Northern Ireland. Any proposals which can help in a transition away from the issues which have blighted many communities must be welcomed. If we are to have a more normal society here, then that should be one free from paramilitary activity on all sides. Included within the talks at Stormont at the moment is the need to end paramilitary activity and a positive step from within loyalism should be welcomed by everyone."[1]

In Sept 2020 Chair David Campbell wrote in a News Letter (Northern Ireland daily) article of the "significant progress" since the founding of the LCC concerning the three paramilitary organisations, moving to "put paramilitarism behind them and focus on rebuilding their communities and reconciling with other, opposing traditions."[7] At the same time Campbell wrote of the "less encouraging", "consistent" attitude of government, "to exclude and discriminate against the loyalist community whilst all the while articulating the need for them to transform."[7] Campbell went on to reference the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement at Stormont and its commitment to act towards ending paramilitarism, including establishing an inter-departmental Board, pointing out that board had not met five years later.[7] He stated that by 2020 there was no dedicated loyalist representative appointed to the Human Rights Commission and further how between the Policing Board, Parades Commission, Equality Commission, the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition, and the Human Rights Commission, "there was only one recognisable loyalist member" (referring to Dawn Purvis on the Equality Commission).[7]

Campbell requested of the Westminster Northern Ireland Affairs Committee an Inquiry into public appointments in Northern Ireland.[7] Campbell also referenced that there was no dedicated loyalist representative appointed to the Centenary Forum and Historical Advisory Panel for the celebrations of 100 years of Northern Ireland, further stating that the pattern is "just the tip of the iceberg" and describing a "huge loyalist deficit" of resources.[7] Campbell's conclusion asked, "Is it any wonder that statistically the most under-privileged young person in western Europe is a teenage boy from a loyalist heartland? Is it any wonder that these teenagers continue to flock to loyalist paramilitary organisations and sustain their existence?"[7]

In the 2017 UK general election the LCC issued a statement supporting the DUP and the UUP. However, this support was rejected by both parties.[8]

During the Brexit negotiations the council said that it was "strongly opposed" to the proposed Withdrawal Agreement due to the treatment of the Irish border question.[9] In late February 2021 the DUP met with the LCC to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol.[10] In early March 2021 the LCC declared that, as a result of its opposition to the protocol, it was temporarily removing its support for the Good Friday Agreement.[11]

The LCC have repeatedly called for Unionist flags to be taken down outside the "marching season".[12]