Call for Unionist unity in parliament to stop Sinn Fein First Minister
01 May 2010
Speaking at the launch of the TUV Manifesto, Leader, Jim Allister QC speaking of the opportunities of a hung parliament said TUV would readily co-operate with other Unionist MPs in pursuit of the best deal on every issue for Northern Ireland.
Making it clear that repeal of the provision permitting Sinn Fein to be First Minister would be top of his shopping list Mr Allister challenged each of the other Unionist Parties to join and support him in this quest.
“One of the most shameful events of the last parliament was when the Unionist title deeds to the position of First Minister were surrendered. The legislative change taking the post away from the biggest tradition in Northern Ireland, passed in November 2006, must be repealed.
“I appreciate this will be difficult and embarrassing for the DUP, since they connived at achieving this monstrous change, because Peter Robinson thought it would create a ‘clever device’ to duress unionists into voting DUP. But the opportunity in a hung parliament to reverse this catastrophic mistake is more important than DUP embarrassment and, therefore, should be grasped.
“So, I invite every Unionist MP to unite in making this a non-negotiable demand in the new parliament. Section 16C(6) of the NI Act 1998, inserted by Section 8 of the NI St Andrews Act 2006, is a monstrous insult, whereby a Sinn Fein First Minister can be foisted on a unionist majority. It must go and in a hung parliament we can get rid of it if every Unionist MP makes it the price of any vote.”
