Parades report is delayed after Blair intervenes

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission last night cancelled publication of its crucial report on contentious parades after direct…

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission last night cancelled publication of its crucial report on contentious parades after direct intervention by the British Prime Minister.

Mr Tony Blair contacted the Commission's chairman, Mr Alastair Graham, to say the situation in the North was too politically sensitive for such a report to be released at this stage.

The Parades Commission was to announce its preliminary view on about a dozen parades due to take place in key areas, including Drumcree in Portadown, Co Armagh, during the summer.

The Orange Order had predicted that most of the decisions would be against the right to march. Earlier there had been speculation that one of the Commission's members, the former UDA leader, Mr Glenn Barr, was considering resigning in protest at the decisions.

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In a letter to Mr Graham yesterday, Mr Blair said that while the decisions of the Parades Commission were entirely for itself, he was concerned that the people of Northern Ireland were focused on the Northern Ireland Agreement and the forthcoming referendum and he did not want to "overload the public system".

Mr Blair said that in these difficult and sensitive times for both communities and their political representatives, the recent agreement had created a new context in which parades could be considered.

However, Mr Blair said there was a strong case for allowing more time for discussion on the parades issue and for the chance to build cross-community support in Northern Ireland.

Last night the Commission agreed to delay the publication of the report. A Downing Street spokesman said the Prime Minister welcomed the decision, and confirmed that Mr Blair had not discussed the decision to write to Mr Graham with the political parties in Northern Ireland.