This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards,but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Skip to content....

text size: Decrease text-size Increase text-size

Skip to content....

The Question DUP doesn't want to answer

17 February 2011

Challenge to DUP to come clean on serving under McGuinness

Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC:-

“The DUP needs to come clean on what it would do if its connivance to allow the First Minister’s post to be filled by the biggest party backfired and shamefully IRA/Sinn Fein fulfilled that criterion.

 “Will Peter Robinson stand over the suggestion he made in an email to a voter before the last election, that he would not nominate a deputy?

“Mr Robinson wrote this:

"There is no Legislative process to place Mr. McGuiness as First Minister. Only the votes of Unionists can do that. We can have deadlock if they become the largest party and they put forward Mr. McGuiness for the First Minister's post but as the two posts First Minister and Deputy First Minister are put forward together if we do not fill the Deputy First Minister's post then Mr. McGuiness does not become First Minister".

“Will Mr Robinson now publicly confirm as a pledge this suggestion made privately? Unionists are entitled to know if the DUP will serve under Sinn Fein. TUV certainly won’t, I trust the UUP will not, but where does the DUP stand? Last July Lord Bannside meekly indicated he would accept his former chuckle partner as First Minister. Is this the official DUP position? Are they divided on the issue? Voters are entitled to know.

“Under Section 16A of the NI Act 1998 it is correct that if no deputy First Minister is nominated, then no First Minister can take office.

“Despite the contrivance which allowed the threat of a Sinn Fein First Minister to emerge, Unionists can lance that boil now if all three parties pledge not to work under McGuinness. So, let’s have your answer DUP, no ifs, no buts, just a plain answer to a plain question. Will you pledge to stop any threat of McGuinness serving as First Minister by refusing to serve under him?
 
“Unionist voters are waiting for a clear, unequivocal answer from the party which allowed the law to be changed so as to create the threat of a Sinn Fein First Minister. Having created that threat, the least voters are entitled to know from the DUP is will they now pledge to neutralise their threat by undertaking not to nominate a deputy? Or, is the lure of power, any power, so great that the DUP would now even serve under McGuinness?”
 
back to list 

NI politics