Toast Tussle
The DUP's Robin Newton is annoyed with Alliance's Naomi Long for choosing to toast the people of Belfast at her installation dinner as Lord Mayor of Belfast next Saturday. Many of Ms Long's predecessors have toasted the Queen. Personally I've always been more interested in what's in my glass than what is said before I drink from it, but this isn't the first time toasts have caused political fall out. According to this the refusal of the Governor General of Canada to toast the Irish President back in 1948 led to Dublin's declaration of a republic a year later.
UPDATE: Alliance sent me this comment from the Mayor: "I have previously visited Buckingham Palace and welcomed a range of Royal visitors to Belfast , and I look forward to doing so again. I have also previously proposed the loyal toast at functions; however, as this particular event is a celebration of the civic life of Belfast , I feel it is most appropriate on this occasion that my toast is to the citizens of this great city."
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