ULSTER Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton has welcomed the proposed guidance for the Union flag to be flown all year round in Northern Ireland (NI).

Currently, Union flags in NI are only required to be flown on Government buildings on designated days, in line with UK policy.

The Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA said: “I welcome the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's [DCMS] proposals for the wider flying of the Union flag on UK government buildings, and I support the policy being extended to Northern Ireland.

"However, the Government will be judged by its actions rather than its words.

"Contradictions run through the centre of what the Government has said and done.

"Attempts by DCMS and Michael Gove to foster greater co-operation across the United Kingdom to strengthen the Union are undermined by the imposition of the NI Protocol.

"This has been the most divisive act and threat to the future of the United Kingdom agreed by any prime minister,” she said.