Why the deafening silence from the DUP?
01 May 2010
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
"On Friday I issued a call, which unifies every unionist in Ulster, namely that in a hung parliament every Unionist candidate should pledge to make repeal of the legislative change in the St Andrews Act, which permits Sinn Fein to become First Minister, the price of their vote in support of any government.
I note that the UUP has responded positively, promising the Tories will make this change, but there has been a deafening silence from the DUP? Why? How is it that they can't commit to the righting of this monstrous wrong to the Unionist people. Their embarrassment over the fact that they connived in the change being made in the first place, because Mr Robinson saw the threat of McGuinness becoming First Minister as a means of coercing unionists to vote DUP, should not now cause them to hold back from making this unifying pledge.
I, therefore, renew the challenge to the DUP to publicly commit to the repeal of Section 16C(6) of the NI Act 1998, as amended, as the price of their vote in a hung parliament. This is something on which every Unionist should be able to unite, so I hope the DUP will come into line with the other two unionist parties on this vital issue. If anyone should do so it is the DUP because it was they let it happen in secret proximity talks with Sinn Fein, with even their peers voting for the clause making the outrageous change."
