Empey slams DUP's 'attack-dog approach'
ULSTER Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey has accused DUP leader Peter Robinson of an "attack-dog approach to politics".
Sir Reg said that Mr Robinson's interview in Monday's News Letter demonstrated that the DUP's view of unionism was disjointed.
Sir Reg said that Mr Robinson had to accept personal blame for the party's vote almost halving at the European election.
"Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of the whole interview is Mr Robinson's refusal to acknowledge that the DUP's collapsed vote might have something to do with him personally, or with the fact that the DUP seems to have abandoned every pledge it ever made," said the UUP leader.
"Instead, he strikes out at Jim Allister — the very man he brought back into politics in 2004 — and at me.
"He talks of unionist unity in one breath and then attacks the very people and parties he claims to want to improve relationships with.
"The Ulster Unionist Party has made some very tough decisions over the years and on almost every occasion all we got from the DUP was criticism."
Sir Reg accused Mr Robinson of "presiding over the creation of the TUV" after promising to unite unionism when he became DUP leader 12 months ago.
And he said that Mr Robinson – who said Sir Reg was "betraying unionism" for refusing a Conservatives and Unionists' electoral pact with the DUP – was in no position to speak about unionist unity.
"It was DUP intervention in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in 2001 which saw the seat lost to Sinn Fein," he said.
"It was DUP intervention in South Belfast in 2005 which saw the seat lost to the SDLP.
"It was the DUP's stupidity, incompetence and arrogance at St Andrews in October 2006 and at talks in March/April 2007, which gifted Sinn Fein mutual veto, co-equality and the opportunity to actually take the post of First Minister.
"I will not take lectures from Peter Robinson on the subject of Sinn Fein."
He also questioned Mr Robinson's claim that Sinn Fein would not have a role in controlling the police and the courts once policing and justice powers are devolved.
"That's how it is with every other aspect of business, so why would policing and justice be different?" asked Sir Reg.
And, following Mr Robinson's revelation in yesterday's News Letter that he does not keep his salary as First Minister, instead paying it to the party, UUP Assemblyman David McNarry said: "I would imagine that the man or woman on the street would choke at the thought of taxpayer-funding of political parties, yet by the back door Mr Robinson is using a fine Assembly salary to fund partisan campaigning."
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 15 February 2012
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