DUP credibility in freefall
09 November 2009
Statement by Jim Allister. TUV Leader:-
“This morning (9th November) on Nolan, Jeffrey Donaldson, on behalf of the DUP, gave this solemn undertaking:-
“If the Full Time Reserve is disbanded do I think that policing and justice devolution will proceed? No. I don’t believe that it will because not only will the DUP not agree to it but the public confidence will not be there to make it happen. That is absolutely clear. That has been our position.”
“Just 5 hours later on Stormont Live, Jeffrey Donaldson had backtracked entirely from the full retention of the Reserve being a pre-condition to the totally different and pathetic ground of merely looking to accommodate those Reservists who don’t want to retire; saving the Reserve had been abandoned in 5 short hours:-
“We need to work with the Chief Constable to look at ways in which those officers who want to remain ………….. who want to continue making a contribution to policing whose presence and experience we believe is essential..…. we believe that those officers should be retained…….what we meant was that those officers who have a valuable contribution to make want to make should be allowed to.”
“So much for Jeffrey’s bluster on Nolan, sadly that was all it was as he is now ducking and diving to sell out the Police Reserve. No one who has watched DUP treatment of past solemn commitments should be surprised, but it is a shameful way to play fast and loose with such a vital issue.
“How can rising IRA terrorism necessitate the complete retention of the full Reserve at 9am, but by 2pm the Reserve can be disbanded if 150 officers, or so, are re-engaged? Clearly, keeping a deal alive with IRA/Sinn Fein is now more important than keeping the Police Reserve. And then the DUP wonder why they are in decline? Whatever else is in freefall, clearly the DUP’s credibility is in the biggest casualty.”
