"If they are watching this in Belfast they will be laughing at us" - Row breaks out over European Capital of Culture branding

A council meeting today descended into what one councillor described as a 'farce'.

The row erupted after attempts were made to get both 'Londonderry' and 'Strabane' added to the name and branding of Derry and Belfast's joint 2023 European Capital of Culture bid.

The issue was raised at a full meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council at The Guildhall this afternoon.

At the meeting the DUP Councillor David Ramsay said concerns had been ignored about the issue at the last meeting.

Independent Unionist Councillor Maurice Devenney proposed that the name 'Londonderry' should be added to both the bid and branding.

However, this was defeated in a vote despite the SDLP backing the move with the UUP and DUP.

In the same meeting Independent Councillor Paul Gallagher proposed adding 'Strabane' to the bid and branding.

SDLP Councillor Martin Reilly described the move as 'farcical' and added than it could 'do more harm than good' to the bid.

Cllr Reilly added 'if they are watching this in Belfast they will be laughing at us'.

Cllr Gallagher replied that the 'people of Strabane are paying for this through rates and shouldn't be disenfranchised'.

The proposal was defeated after a vote.

Following the vote Mayor Hilary McClintock said that council needed to be 'mindful of the image we are sending out today'.

It was announced earlier this month that council had given its approval to spend £300k as part of a joint bid with Belfast for the European Capital of Culture in 2023, despite fears they may not be eligible due to Brexit.