DUP Member of the European Parliament, Jim Allister QC, has this evening said that the DUP can be trusted by unionists to do a deal only if it is right for unionism.

Speaking to the East Belfast DUP Association, Mr Allister said, “Unionism faces the upcoming talks more relaxed and confident than on previous occasions because this time the leadership of unionism can be trusted to stand its ground and only do a deal if the deal is right.

Though highly desirous of devolution, we do not hold with devolution at any price.  Better to have no devolution than bad devolution.  Bad devolution is that which elevates to unaccountable executive authority the representatives of those who waged war and still hold the means of war.  We’ve had more than our share of that in Northern Ireland but under this unionist leadership, we’re not going back there.

Executive office must be a terror free zone.  That means it is barred to those inextricably linked to terror and the structures of terror.  So long as Sinn Fein are the allies and companions of terror and criminality, then they bar themselves from Executive office.  They know what they have to do.  No one else can do it for them.

Nor is there any room for a package of inducements as an enticement to irreversibly break the link with terror.  “Sweetie jar politics” failed and failed miserably.  Just look at the plight of the sticky-fingered confectioner Trimble.

If Sinn Fein wants the fruits of democracy, then, without reward, they must unilaterally make an irreversible journey from the shadows of terror.  Then and only then can they qualify as democrats”.