https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/tuv-leader-jim-allister-urges-action-on-up-the-ra-chants-glorifying-terrorism-42JQ4Z3TFNGGBF32JI4KBT3Y5I/

By Claudia Savage, PA
March 10, 2025 at 8:11pm GMT

Jim Allister has urged the British government to tackle the “glorification of terrorism” of people singing “the Republican mantra, up the Ra”.

The TUV leader welcomed that the government’s Crime and Policing Bill would “for the first time” make it an offence to “have a banner which glorifies a proscribed organisation”.

He spoke in the Commons during the second reading of the Bill which includes a range of measures from tackling knife crime to anti-social behaviour.

Mr Allister referred specifically to clause 123, which would enable the seizure of a flag or poster which “arouses reasonable suspicion the individual who displayed it was a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation”.

The MP for North Antrim said: “We have hidden away something which will be of particular interest to many in Northern Ireland.

“For the first time this clause will make it an offence to put on a lamp post or have a banner which glorifies a proscribed organisation.

“That’s a good thing, that’s necessary. I do welcome the fact that that is the intent.”

He added: “But that then focuses attention on the disparity of the failure of this Bill to deal with the inadequacy of the offence of glorification of terrorism, which is too limp and largely unused.

“So we now arrive at a situation where you couldn’t legally put a banner up that says, to use the Republican mantra, ‘up the Ra’ – which means up the IRA, that organisation that murdered thousands of our citizens – you couldn’t under this Bill put that up on a lamp post as a banner, and that’s good, but you can say it, under glorification of terrorism.

“So that hideous, horrible Republican mantra ‘up the Ra’, which is a chorus from a Republican song which glorifies terrorism, which says lyrics like ‘the Brits will never leave until they’re blown away’, ‘Oh, ah, up the Ra, SAM missiles in the sky’.

“That’s glorification of terrorism, of course it is. But yet, under our legislation, that is not defined as glorification of terrorism because you have to be advocating that which would emulate and encourage others to engage in terrorism.”

He added: “If you take what’s in (clause) 123 and make the offence that which promotes the interest of a proscribed organisation, then you have done the right thing, but you need to transfer it across into the glorification of terrorism.

“Why should it be right to be illegal to have a banner that says up the Ra, but to address thousands of kids through a song, as happens every August in Northern Ireland, and sing up the Ra? That needs to be reconciled and dealt with.”

by jagmanistan

38 comments

  2. Jim has just said “up the Ra”, more times than most nationalists ever have.

  3. They’re just supporting the historical IRA.

    Which, according to my unionist hypocritionary, is fine

  5. Maybe they’re talking about the old IRA? That’s what’s usually spouted when UVF flags are mentioned.

  6. Quite mad that Jim put lyrics from the SAM song on Hansard’s permanent parliamentary record

  7. When has he seen a banner that’s says Up the Ra?

    Isn’t this just making loyalist paramilitary flags illegal? I can’t think of any commonly seen Republican flags that would fall under this

  8. Having a banner that glorifies a prescribed organisation? Doesn’t that mean that the loyalists will be forced to take down their UVF flegs they love so dearly?

  9. Right lads, time to round up the members of the uvf band in east Belfast then.

  10. always fun to watch people attempt to handwave away sectarian chants in this sub

  11. Jim is sailing very close to learning what the Streisand Effect is the hard way but he’s far too stupid to see it.

  12. Tiocfaidh ar la, uppa ra, fuck his ma, and his da

  13. I haven’t come across a “Ra” flag but if there are any then they should rightfully be removed.
    Likewise all the UVF flags that litter the place, sick of the sight of them.

  17. So this is the most important thing he could think of to discuss in parliament. Jesus H…..

  18. When he having that massive coronary, the whiskey nosed cunt

  21. Hope that means no glorifying the UVF, wanna see how long Allister lasts on that front

  22. Will we be seeing those KIA drums again this year, Jim?

  23. Shane Gillis always sayin it these days on the Joe Rogan podcast lol

  24. But sure they can just commemorate the old IRA not the new one like Loyalists bands do. 

  25. Emperor Palatine head coming out about anything sectarian is the most hypocritical thing you will ever hear.

  28. The politics here is a waste of time. Will it ever change?

  29. >‘up the Ra’ – which means up the IRA

    Thanks for the clarification!

  31. I think it’s great that Jim uses his position in the local political sphere, to really get to the heart of the matter on the really big issues affecting society today.

  33. Actually, as much as it pains me to say so, I agree with him. Especially younger folk saying it, having not lived through the troubles and witnessing first hand the atrocities carried out by the IRA. 

    And don’t make me do the “the other side were just as bad” thing, cus it goes without saying. 

  34. He gets my vote. I always find it bizarre when this comes up. Chanting support of an organisation that as a stand alone figure inflicted the highest number of casualties against the community it was sworn to defend.

  36. Anyone know how we can get farage to send a cameo to Jim saying up the ra?

  37. See to be honest… the second best thing to seeing no flegs up in an area is seeing them ripped to shreds by the wind

    Honestly in my 40 years on this earth have never understood the obsession of a fleg other than sport tournaments

  38. Up the RA.

    Sue me, Jim.

    On a serious note, I find it hilarious that an alt-right lunatic like Alister now wants to stop freedom of speech. They really are the biggest snowflakes in the world.

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