Paisley would 'accept' SF first minister
IAN Paisley has said that he would "accept the will of the people" if a Sinn Fein first minister is elected.
In the latest article for the News Letter's Union 2021 series of essays on the future of Northern Ireland, the man who once vowed to 'smash' Sinn Fein said he would have to accept the outcome of next year's assembly election – even if Martin McGuinness takes Stormont's top post.
Why I would accept a Sinn Fein first minister
And, amid numerous calls by his own party for unionist unity, the former first minister, who earlier this month entered the House of Lords as Lord Bannside, spelt out his clear opposition to the creation of a single unionist party.
The DUP founder warned that such a move would only benefit those who "want power".
Dr Paisley said he supported better inter-party relationships, but argued that a single party – as called for by Orange grand master Robert Saulters – would remove choice from the electorate.
"Limiting that choice is not in the interests of the province but merely in the interests of those who want power," he said.
Dr Paisley, who handed over the DUP leadership to Peter Robinson in 2008, also stressed: "When I left off the leadership I left my party as having the largest mandate... Sinn Fein didn't become the majority party on my watch."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
