THE DUP has said it has submitted a legal challenge against a Sinn Féin proposal to change the name of Londonderry to Derry.
Last month Derry and Strabane District Council passed a motion to change the name of the city.
The move was proposed by Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley who argued it would help establish a clear brand for the city across the world.
The DUP branded the motion a distraction and described it as “unionist baiting”.
On Wednesday the party confirmed it will be launching a legal challenge in the council to try and prevent the name being changed.
The city was originally called Derry until 1613 when the awarding of the Royal Charter added the prefix “London”.
While the motion was passed by the local council, the power to change the name is not within its remit.
The authority has written to the Department of Environment (DoE) to ask how it can be changed.
The DoE – headed up by SDLP Minister Mark H Durkan MLA – said it has not received any correspondence from the council, as yet, but will consider the matter “carefully”.
However, it’s understood the ultimate power to change the name may rest with the Queen.