British government calls for Drumcree ‘compromise’

Middle East / 29 September 2026 Mediators work to broker new Iran-US peace deal 29 September 2026 Southeast Asia / 29 September 2026 Malaysia begins Myanmar repatriations despite safety warnings 29 September 2026 Europe / 29 September 2026 Three Egyptian security officials convicted of kidnapping Italian student 29 September 2026 Latin America / 29 September 2026 Argentina's Milei threatens Britain with legal action over Falkland's oilfields 29 September 2026 Latin America / 29 September 2026 Colombia slaps lengthy prison sentences on rebels for recruiting children 29 September 2026 Round-up / 29 September 2026 World in brief: September 29, 2026 29 September 2026 THE British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland today urged all sides to “double down on compromise” to end the Drumcree parade stalemate.

The remarks from Sir Chris Bryant came as the stand-off between the Orange Order and the mainly nationalist community in Portadown continued.

A number of Orange Order members have remained at Drumcree Church, hoping to march through Garvaghy Road.

But protesters have continued to block the route, insisting that the parade should not be allowed to proceed.

Talks were expected to resume on Tuesday following a day of discussions at Hillsborough Castle on Monday and heated exchanges in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris was set to return to Northern Ireland to facilitate further discussions from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

Speaking at the conference, Sir Chris said: “The situation in Drumcree is tense and this government, like every Labour government, will always go the extra mile for peace.

“That’s precisely what I’ll be doing this afternoon: bringing both sides together, talking to everyone, bridging sectarian divides and giving compromise a chance.

“Because nobody, nobody, nobody wants Northern Ireland to return to the 1990s.

“That’s not going to be easy, as the last few days have shown. It’s really easy to stir up a grievance, much harder to calm it down.

“Which is why I appeal to everyone: believe in Northern Ireland and double down on compromise.”

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said that she believed it was “likely” an international mediator would be appointed to attempt to intervene to help end the crisis.

She said: “It’s very clear that this has been very difficult for all communities in Northern Ireland. It’s been a very difficult few days for the residents on the Garvaghy Road and it has been difficult for all political parties.”

She added that it was “really important that this is resolved through dialogue, but also it’s really important that people in the community do not have a march forced on them, where very clearly this is not something that people want.”

Orangemen in Portadown said today that they have made a formal complaint to the Chief Constable of the Northern Ireland Police Service about Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister Michelle O’Neill.

Ms O’Neill joined the protest and was then accused by Ulster Unionists of acting unlawfully.

Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, Ms O’Neill said she was proud to protest with the residents who “have suffered generations of sectarian domination, intimidation and violence.”

Northern Ireland / 28 September 2026 The days of unionist ‘supremacy’ are gone, says Northern Ireland's First Minister 28 September 2026 Editorial / 27 September 2026 Why the Garvaghy Road crisis matters for both Britain and Ireland 27 September 2026 ‘Reviving the Garvaghy Road route for an Orange Order parade after 28 years, when it was a focal point of lethal violence back in the 1990s, looks like a bid to take us backwards too’