Paisley provokes polite protest

PROTESTERS in Lewes suggested in the politest possible way on Saturday that the Rev Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, should retire from politics.

The controversial 75-year-old Ulster MP was in the town to preach at the Jireh Chapel, re-opened after the October, 2000, floods.

Mr Paisley s Free Presbyterian Church owns the former Independent Calvinistic building which is listed as being of architectural importance.

Opponents of his stance in the Northern Ireland peace protest displayed a 10ft banner which read: Ian Paisley Go home, cease obstructing . . . and retire please!

Said organiser Hugh Forbes (pictured second from the right in the demonstration): 'I think Dr Paisley has obstructed the peace process and has been against it from the start.

'He has a strong personality, a talent for oratory and a considerable following.

'He could have been a powerful force for progress and sensible compromise in Northern Ireland.

'Instead, he appears to have taken up the dishonourable position of being a force of obstruction to all progress for decades.

'I did not want him to come into our town and leave again without some voices suggesting that it is time for him to retire, since one cannot envisage him achieving the slightest change.

Mr Paisley told the Express: 'There used to be lots of protests against me in the 80s but it doesn t happen so much now.

'People have the right to make protests if they keep within the law. I m all for democracy and freedom of speech.

And Pastor Noel Shields, of the Jireh, said Mr Paisley had no immediate intentions of retirement. He was in excellent health, demonstrated by the way he flew into Lewes for the service and then flew home again, only to fly back on Monday to preach in Lewes again.

'The protesters have every right to demonstrate, he added, 'But I believe a lot of people don t really understand the situation in Northern Ireland.

'I asked them if they agreed that terrorists should be free to roam the streets. They said they did not. There seems to be some confusion.

l A congregation of about 180 people from all over East Sussex attended Saturday s service at the Jireh.