Majority of Voters Disagree with Belfast City Council's Dual Language Signage Policy

Strategic Insights -

A recent Lucid Talk poll revealed that only 31% of voters agree with the Belfast City Council's current policy on dual language signage. The existing rules require a survey of residents to be conducted with a 15% threshold for approval by a council committee. However, 39% of respondents felt the threshold should be higher, and 29% disagreed with the policy entirely, indicating they would prefer signage in English only. The poll showed a significant divide in opinion along constitutional and party preference lines, with nationalists and Sinn Fein voters backing the current policy, while unionists and DUP voters preferred English-only signage or a higher threshold.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only 31% of voters agree with the Belfast City Council's current policy on dual language signage, while 39% think the threshold should be higher.
  • 29% of respondents disagree with the policy entirely, preferring signage in English only.
  • The poll revealed a significant divide in opinion along constitutional and party preference lines.
  • Nationalists (63%) and Sinn Fein voters (72%) largely support the current policy, while unionists (39%) and DUP voters (24%) prefer English-only signage or a higher threshold.
  • Irish language advocacy groups argue that the current policy is in line with United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues guidance, which recommends a threshold between 5% and 20%.
  • 1,110 dual-language sign applications are pending approval, with 737 individual streets affected.

Statistics:

  • 31% of voters agree with the current dual language signage policy.
  • 39% of voters think the threshold should be higher.
  • 29% of voters disagree with the policy entirely.
  • 63% of nationalists support the current policy.
  • 72% of Sinn Fein voters support the current policy.
  • 39% of unionists advocate for English-only signage or a higher threshold.
  • 1,110 dual-language sign applications are pending approval.
  • 737 individual streets are affected by the pending applications.

Sources:

  • Lucid Talk poll
  • Belfast City Council
  • United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues