‘Anti-British ethos’ claim as city council removes BGT poster

BELFAST City Council is to carry out a review after one of its council officers ordered the removal of Britain’s Got Talent posters from council premises because it features a Union flag.

It emerged yesterday that the posters had been taken down after concerns were raised by council employees that it contravenes the local authority’s policy of providing a “good and harmonious” workplace.

Loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson, who published a leaked email that shows a council officer telling staff across the council’s community centres to remove the posters advertising BGT auditions in Belfast, said the move shows the council has an “anti-British ethos”.

Mr Bryson, speaking on the

The Britain’s Got Talent poster

BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show yesterday morning, said: “I think it is just another appalling example of what I would say is the increasingly anti-British ethos embedded within Belfast City Council.”

Calling for the chief executive of the council to address the controversy, Mr Bryson added that the BGT auditions would bring much needed investment into Belfast and would bring many tourists into the city centre following the Bank Buildings Fire in August.

In a statement yesterday, Belfast City Council said the email was issued in response to “some concerns” raised by a number of staff members.

“While the intention was to be responsive to those staff concerns, we recognise this has caused upset to others,” they added.

Stressing that the council does not wish to “inadvertently undermine” the popular programme’s efforts to come to Belfast, the spokesperson added: “We will be reviewing the circumstances surrounding this incident and seeking to ensure our policies and the implementation are consistent with best practice and advice.”