[2][3] As leader, Birch initially purged the East Belfast UDA of the "Spice Boys", a flamboyant group of racketeers close to Gray.
He stated that the vote had been part of a democratic process and claimed that loyalist rioters were allowing themselves to be "played" by Sinn Féin.
[7] He was in attendance as an Ulster Political Research Group representative at the inaugural meeting of the Unionist Forum, a task force established by Peter Robinson and Mike Nesbitt in the aftermath of the City Hall flag vote.
[9] The charity is chaired by Dee Stitt, a close ally of Jackie McDonald and convicted armed robber who is head of the UDA in North Down and number two to Birch in the East Belfast Brigade.
[11] Birch has been associated with the mainstream tendency within the UDA and has maintained close relations with fellow brigadiers Jackie McDonald, Billy McFarland and John Bunting.