The former Downing Street Chief of Staff under Tony Blair Jonathan Powell - who helped launch the Loyalist Communities Council - urged politicians not to “play with matches” in the wake of the violence and called for engagement with loyalist communities.
Mr Powell, who is not involved in the LCC, also told First Minister Arlene Foster to “back off” after her calls for Simon Bryne to resign.
Mrs Foster again reiterated her call for the PSNI chief constable Simon Bryne to resign, as she says the leadership of the police “needs to change”.
The DUP leader was speaking in the wake of days of violence across Belfast, Carrickfergus and Londonderry which saw loyalists clash with police on the streets.