Newspaper aims to boost 'Protestant pride'

Belfast’s under-new-management News Letter newspaper has set out a fresh outlook for itself aimed at “giving back back confidence and pride to Protestants and unionists“.

An editorial appearing in tomorrow’s issue of the paper refers to the eroded confidence of Northern Ireland’s Protetants in their heritage and sense of belonging.

The News Letter says of Protestants in Northern Ireland: “They have been expected to feel shame and to experience a loss of dignity.

“Portrayed as hard-heated Ulster Prods, it is almost as if they have started to believe their own propaganda.

“After years of being made to feel responsible for the ills of the past, they have adopted an attitude of the oppressed majority.”

The newspaper – the oldest continuously-published one in the English-speaking world, and traditionally representative of the Protestant viewpoint – was recently bought from the Trinity Mirror group by the venture capitalists 3i and is now operated by Local Press Limited.

The editorial says the Protestant and unionist heritage is an integral part of Northern Ireland and of the island of Ireland as a whole.

“All too often, only the negative aspects of Ulster have been laid at the door of people from this heritage.

“It is now time to set a new agenda that will build on the already transforming situation in Northern Ireland.

“This agenda must lead to an atmosphere in which Protestants and unionists have flung off the burden of guilt they have been required to shoulder over recent years.

“This agenda will respond to the needs of the Roman Catholic and nationalist community by a determination to work in devolved government with all people who share the same peaceful standards.

“And to make no bones about it, these peaceful standards demand that there are no guns whatsoever in the hands of whosoever.”

The paper declares: “From this day, the News Letter will promote the agenda to restore confidence and pride in our leaders who are part of the Protestant and unionist heritage.

“Giving back confidence and pride to Protestants and unionists must be matched with a growing respect from the rest of the community.

“If this is forthcoming, then it will be time to do political business together and mean it.”