St Andrews Bombshell
15 January 2008
Statement by Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister
"I am appalled by what I have today discovered by a Freedom of Information request as to how the DUP conducted itself at St Andrews last October, particularly Ian Paisley Junior.
With Unionists back home hoping and believing that the DUP leadership was there negotiating hard for the best deal possible in defence of the Union, I believe most will be outraged to discover that Ian Paisley Junior was wasting valuable leverage on securing concessions from the PM no less, not on matters of importance to Unionists, but on issues of mere commercial or constituency import.
On the critical last day of the negotiations David Hanson, NIO Minister of State, wrote to Ian Paisley Junior in the following terms:-
Requests to the Government from Ian Paisley Jr.
The Prime Minister has considered your requests and has agreed that we should try to respond positively. I will ask my officials to scope the issues set out below and will report back to you once I have considered their findings.
1. £1m over seven years for the North West 200
2. Resort Spa Planning approval inc. 200 homes
3. St Pats Barracks -future use to be discussed with MP
4. Giants Causeway -Private Sector land to be included in development
5. A26 upgrade -Ballymena to Ballycastle
6. Ballee (?) lands -judicial review to be dropped
This letter should be regarded as a statement of intent. I should be grateful if you would provide some further detail on each item. My office will discuss with you at the earliest opportunity.
David Hanson
Minister of State
Northern Ireland Office
When Unionism needed concessions on a vast range of issues, including an end to mandatory coalition, the decoupling of OFMDFM, a resolute insistence on an end to the Army Council, an enhanced financial package for NI and much more, why did Ian Paisley Junior think it appropriate to move the focus onto these irrelevant issues? Patently by this tactic the DUP took its eye off the ball. Little wonder the outcome was so disappointing for unionists.
While I was part of the wider DUP delegation at St Andrews I was carefully excluded from all negotiating meetings. Now, I better understand why!
Ian Paisley Junior and the DUP leadership now owe a full, unvarnished explanation to the people, not only as to why these matters were prioritised but precisely what is involved in each. For example, what is meant by the reference to a resort spa with housing, who were the beneficiaries, why were the Sweeney lands at the Causeway made part of the negotiations and likewise why were the Ballee lands in the mix? Each and every one of the four senior negotiators who attended the meetings with Hanson and the Prime Minister must explain, but above all Ian Paisley Junior must come clean.
It will be no answer to try and divert attention by attacking me as the messenger, let's have utter transparency, honesty and candour."
Watch BBC's report on the story here
