Did I miss memo it’s sexist to describe female politicians as women? Wife of top Northern Ireland hotel boss slams Sinn Fein response to his plea for political leadership

The wife of a top Northern Ireland hotelier has hit out after her husband was accused of making "sexist" comments after he referred to the leaders of Sinn Fein and the DUP as "women of intransigence".

Bill Wolsey made a plea to Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill to resolve their differences and begin talks to return power-sharing in Northern Ireland urgently.

"The people did not vote for them not to even sit in the same room together," he told the BBC.

"The vast majority of people in this country are fed up with the politicians. We have replaced the men of violence with the women of intransigence.

"That's not what we voted for."

Both Sinn Fein and the DUP blamed each other once again for the political impasse in response.

Sinn Fein said the institutions could only be restored on the basis of equality and power-sharing saying the DUP had walked away from a deal. MLA Caoimhe Archibald added there was "no place in society for sexist comments".

"Am I having a moment?" Petra Wolsey, wife of Bill and marketing director of The Beannchor Group hit back.

"Did I miss the memo that tells us it’s sexist to describe female politicians as women? ‘Fess up. What really stings is the truth of how monumentally ineffectual both your parties are for the people of NI," she added tagging in the DUP and Sinn Fein Twitter accounts.

Director of the Northern Ireland retail consortium Aodhan Connolly said the Sinn Fein response was predictable.

"I saw the interview and I said .... "[bet] you a tenner people skip over the pertinent point and accuse him of sexism!" he tweeted.

"I need to do the lotto on Friday."

 

Mr Wolsey Beannchor Group own the five-star Merchant Hotel, over 40 pubs, the popular Little Wing Pizzeria chain of restaurants and the recently opened Bullitt Hotel.

A remain voter in the Brexit referendum he said he supported the Prime Minister's deal on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

While not having a political mandate he said he does have a stake in Northern Ireland's future.

"I don't live in some bubble," he told the BBC.

"We employ people from every socio-economic group there is... I employ people from all over this city and I have done for the past 40 years."

The DUP said it did not collapse the institutions and was ready to restore power sharing immediately saying it had no red lines.

"Only one party out of the five is refusing to appoint ministers," the party added.

Belfast Telegraph