AN IRISH tricolour was added to a post sent out by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office as Downing Street announced details of an evening celebrating Northern Ireland culture.
The inclusion of the tricolour, which appeared at the end of a message flagging the celebration of the cultural of the north, was made in error and deleted, but not before it was widely shared on social media.
On Tuesday morning, Minister of State Steve Baker added his own message on X, formerly Twitter. He posted: “Good Morning apparently from Northern Ireland” accompanied by a Union Jack emoji and an image of a lapel pin with the same flag and another with the cross and red hand, historically known as the Ulster banner.
A picture accompanying the message showed two members of the Sollus Highland Dancers, one of six organisations that operate under the umbrella of the Derry-based North West Cultural Partnership.
“Guests experienced musical entertainment and performances convened by North West Cultural Partnership in collaboration with a range of traditional Irish and Ulster Scots musicians and dancers, alongside a range of other businesses showcased as part of the event,” a Downing Street spokesperson said,.
“We are better served with devolved government,” he said. “There are people out there who want to hand all the devolved power we have back to Westminster and here is what Westminster is doing.”
He added: “They don’t understand Northern Ireland.”
The Ulster banner was the flag of Northern Ireland until 1973 but no longer has any official status, though it is commonly seen at marches and sporting events.