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Press Release

FSB Move to Disassociate Itself from Bill Jeffrey’s Nolan Live Assembly Comments

24th November 2005

The Federation of Small Businesses has this morning firmly disassociated itself from the comments of Mr Bill Jeffrey on the BBC’s Nolan Live Programme in which he called for the abolition of the NI Assembly and the ending of MLA’s salaries.

In a joint statement, Wilfred Mitchell, Chairman of the FSB Policy Committee and John Friel, Chairman of the FSB Regional committee said:

“On behalf of the Federation of Small Businesses we totally disassociate ourselves from the comments of Bill Jeffrey on the Nolan Live programme last night where he called for the abolition of the NI Assembly”

“This is not in any way, shape or form the policy of the FSB. We work with all of the MLAs on behalf of our members to get a better deal for the business community and have consistently called in public and private for Devolution to be restored and for the return of locally elected ministers, who are better placed to address our concerns”

“Mr Jeffrey was not authorised to appear on the Nolan Live Programme and his views are entirely his own personal ones. He is one of over 5000 FSB members in Northern Ireland and is not a member of our Branch, Policy nor Regional Committees and is not a spokesperson of the FSB”

“Like any professional organisation we have clear rules and regulations for dealing with the media, which despite numerous reminders, the BBC chose to ignore this last night by inviting Mr Jeffrey on the Nolan Live show”

“All requests for interviews or media enquires must go through our Press & Parliamentary Officer, Glyn Roberts or approved spokespersons. This is something only last Friday the BBC assured us they would do, but completely failed to respect our procedures by their actions last night”

“Furthermore the FSB will today write to all 108 MLAs and 18 MP’s to express our total disagreement with Mr Jeffrey’s comments and to completely disassociate us from his remarks”



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Federation of Small Businesses

Federation of Small Businesses

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