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DUP ‘are just Sinn Fein props’
Thursday, 4 February 2010
TUV leader Jim Allister has accused his former DUP colleagues of becoming “hapless props” for Sinn Fein strategy.
In a strongly-worded attack Mr Allister claimed the DUP was engaging in “disingenuous spin” over its Assembly group meeting on Monday.
It saw some 40% of of the party’s MLAs opposing a proposed agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers.
The ex-MEP said: “The sad reality of this week is that since Monday the DUP — whose rebuffed leader was content with the vacuity and ‘constructive ambiguity’ of last weekend’s deal — has been back at Hillsborough begging Sinn Fein to throw him a few crumbs to keep him and their deal afloat. Any deal which now is the product of such abasement to IRA/Sinn Fein should fool no one.
“The spectacle of recent days vividly points up the falsity of past DUP claims that, in contrast to Trimble, they had put an end to Sinn Fein holding devolution to ransom.
“Not so long ago the DUP was
boasting it had ‘ended the era of stop/start devolution and the intervention and interference of British and Irish Prime Ministers’. What, then, has the last 10 days been about other than Sinn Fein, with its gun to the DUP’s head, extracting more concessions as the price of keeping Stormont going?
“All I can see that far from ending the drip,drip of concessions to Sinn Fein, the DUP has become the hapless props for Sinn Fein’s staging post strategy. Such is what inevitably happens when you embrace an unworkable system built on toxic vetoes to Sinn Fein.”
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It is very hard to believe the DUP believe it is a good day for Northern Ireland when they, the DUP, have delivered a key IRA/SF objective, namely policing and justice. As someone who was duped by the DUP for years, I rejoice to see Men like Jim Allister stand up and be counted, unlike the mice of the DUP. Of course the DUP spin machine will go into overdrive, but having witnessed their u-turns in recent times, I for one will not be taken in by their claims ever again. I hope the TUV win North Antrim and East Belfast and anywhere else they stand.
Posted by EC | 06.02.10, 16:21 GMT
It is very hard to believe that Mr.Allister is an educated man as he certainly could not be accused of acting like one. He obviously wants to be the leader of a party and seems prepared to stop at nothing to achieve his ends, even if that means a return to the bad old days.
Grow up, shut up and move on James. The majority of people have already done so.
Posted by HC | 05.02.10, 14:54 GMT
Totally agree. Well said. The next election will tell the tale; from Blair's pledges, all broken to steal a 70% yes vote, to the UUP in government with PSF, to the DUP gaining the 30% no vote plus more, to the DUP about turn on sharing power, to devolution and Irish Language Act. No one putting NI first, just themselves.
Thank goodness someone can give us honesty and integrity; something new labour would not understand.
Posted by Sam | 04.02.10, 20:29 GMT
Jim the Dinosaur. The price of democracy is keeping everyone relatively happy. Compromise is what politics is about, even with those you feel are your bitter opponents. Without compromise you get confrontation. With confrontation you get intemperate fools rabble rousing. Sound familiar Jim?
Posted by East Antrim Unionist | 04.02.10, 13:24 GMT
The same kind of mean spirited dribble from Jim Allister.
He still doesn't get it.
Mr.Allister, you don't make peace with your friends, you make it with your enemies. Get over it. The nationalist community are here to stay and their legally elected representatives are here to stay. You can't turn the clock back to the "goos old days" of one party rule.
Posted by Jim | 04.02.10, 11:47 GMT