Unionists should thwart not facilitate 'Brits Out' agenda - Allister
16 December 2009
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC
“Last night’s declaration* by the Secretary of State that on policing and justice Peter Robinson and McGuinness share a common goal and purpose is not much of a recommendation for the First Minister, though a timely reminder of his folly.
“Sinn Fein’s purpose and goal is plain: the ending of British control of policing and justice; it is central to their ‘Brits Out’ strategy, which is why it’s such a seminal issue for them. Unionists who seek not to thwart but facilitate that goal are utterly misguided.
“No Unionist, therefore, should be assisting the transfer of such powers to an Executive in which IRA/Sinn Fein holds the vital power of veto. Do we want the same mayhem as there is in education, with McGuinness and Kelly able to meddle in every key justice decision – remembering all Justice legislation, all key expenditure and every cross-cutting and controversial issue will have to go through the Executive. The puppet minister will be a mere bit player.
“For TUV devolving policing and justice powers is not a question of money or timing, it is something which on principle should never happen so long as there are terrorists in government.”
*“Peter Robinson is a moderniser, he is a devolutionist, he does not want a British (government) secretary of state running policing and justice any more than Martin McGuinness wants to see - perhaps for different reasons - a British secretary of state running policing and justice. So let's be really clear: they share a common goal, they share a common purpose."
