Carla Lockhart MP said, 

“A Judge-led review is a significant victory for unionism, the marching bands and loyal orders. The Parades Commission is an organisation devoid of any credibility, and it is welcome their governance and decision-making will now be scrutinised by a Judge-led review. This was a key demand of the unionist community and Portadown District. 

This review must be robust, provide for engagement from loyal orders and marching bands, and the final report must be public-facing. 

However, the Secretary of State giving his full backing to the remaining Commissioners to be frank doesn’t pass the laugh test. In attaching himself to them, his credibility falls with theirs. He has shown himself impotent to stand up to these belligerent and arrogant Commissioners who demand that they will continue in post, regardless of the fact their credibility and public confidence in them is utterly shattered. 

These Commissioners are in the view of the entire unionist community infected by public law bias and predetermination. I look forward to the Secretary of State explaining how he thinks they could as a matter of law conceivably play any role in any future Drumcree determination. It goes without saying, leaving even the pure question of law aside, that any determination will have no credibility or legitimacy in the eyes of any section of the community given the identity of the decision makers. 

I want the Secretary of State to come to Parliament and clearly tell the House whether or not it is accurate that the five Commissioners told him that if he sought the Chair’s resignation that they would all resign. Are five public office holders, who have demeaned good public administration, threatening the Secretary of State in order to hold onto their salaries and position? 

The test set by the Secretary of State was securing the confidence of the whole unionist community. That is not a matter for him, but rather for the democratically elected political leadership of unionism. And the collective message is clear: this Commission does not command a scintilla of confidence. 

Whilst they remain, the parading framework in Northern Ireland is unsustainable in its present format.”