THE devolved administration in Northern Ireland “will be gone forever” if the Unionists angry at Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal continue down the path they are on, a political leader has warned.
Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist party, sounded the alarm over tactics being used by Jeffrey Donaldson’s DUP in an effort to have the Northern Ireland protocol struck off.
Donaldson’s party saw its First Minister, Paul Givan, step down in protest at the protocol earlier this month. Givan’s exit meant that Sinn Fein’s deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill was also removed from her role.
Under Stormont’s powersharing rules, the largest Unionist party and the largest Nationalist party must share the two roles. An election, due to be held on May 5, may see Sinn Fein returned as the largest party for the first time.
READ MORE: Brexit protocols, 'sabotage and collusion': What is happening in Northern Ireland?
If polling predictions prove correct, Sinn Fein will take the first minister role, while the DUP take the deputy. However, the DUP’s leader has suggested that his party will refuse to take part in the government over the Northern Ireland protocol.
Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, warned: “Stormont will be gone if Sinn Féin come back as the largest party and the DUP second. It will be gone forever.
“The UK Government and Northern Ireland Office are being dragged around by the scruff of the neck by the DUP.
“They are creating divisive politics and [will] until somebody stands up to them and says ‘no, you can’t do this, it’s not going to end well’.”
DUP leader Donaldson (above) said on Saturday: “We entered government back at the beginning of 2020 following an agreement called New Decade, New Approach and in that agreement the UK Government gave a solemn commitment that it would protect Northern Ireland’s place within the UK internal market, that it would introduce measures to afford that protection.
“Over two years later it has not done so and we believe the UK Government has dishonoured the agreement that was the basis upon which the devolved institutions were restored in Northern Ireland.”
It came after Brandon Lewis (below), the Tories’ Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, called on Unionists and Nationalists to nominate for the roles of first and deputy first minister “whatever the result” in May.
Lewis told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Friday: “The fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement are the institutions.
“I would like to see all parties, both from the Nationalist and the Unionist side, be very clear that whatever the result in May, that they will nominate.
“I think the right thing for Northern Ireland is to have the devolved authority of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Assembly back sitting as quickly as possible after May 5 so they can get to grips with the issues.”
Lewis went on: “From my point of view, I think it is disappointing that Paul Givan resigned but I do hope that we can see the DUP re-nominate a first minister and get Stormont back up and running.
“The rules around Stormont have changed. Stormont has not collapsed, obviously the first minister and deputy first minister aren’t in post.
“The other ministers are in post, the Assembly can continue, a lot of the legislation that it is working its way through can continue and complete.
“One of the reasons I said we will not have an early election is, I think, it is important from a stability point of view for people to know that they can see that legislation completed and continue.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel