TUV is weakening unionism - DUP
THE DUP has accused TUV leader Jim Allister of weakening unionism after the former MEP said that he wanted to see whether a unionist minority in the Executive would lead to Stormont's mandatory coalition government collapsing.
Former DUP minister Edwin Poots has questioned Mr Allister's strategy, which he outlined in a News Letter interview published on Wednesday.
The Lagan Valley MLA said that Mr Allister's strategy relied on "promoting Sinn Fein and dividing unionism".
Mr Poots claimed that his party's former MEP had "steadfastly refused" to reveal details of "how he would move Northern Ireland forward" prior to the European election, where Mr Allister took almost half of the DUP's vote.
"It is now abundantly clear why he would not tell the people what his policies actually are because they offer nothing to promote or advance unionism, but actually rely on promoting Sinn Fein and advancing republicanism to succeed," he said.
"His vision of the future actually involves helping republicans move closer to their aim of a united Ireland yet he believes that would somehow be in the best interests of unionism."
Mr Poots accused Mr Allister of wanting to "deliberately fracture unionism" and added: "It is clear that the core of Jim Allister's opposition is not really focused on Sinn Fein, but on defeating other unionists, and particularly those whom he used to call party colleagues."
Meanwhile, Mr Allister has attacked DUP Speaker William Hay for suspending UUP MLA David McNarry from the Assembly for a day over a statement the Strangford Assemblyman made in the Assembly that a Sinn Fein MLA could help the investigation into the Northern Bank robbery.
He queried whether Mr Hay was now in disagreement with his party leader, Peter Robinson: "Very serious allegations were made by Peter Robinson in a speech on May 8, 2001 and no action was taken against him.
"Does the Speaker seriously believe that Sinn Fein/IRA are not in a position to provide information about the proceeds of the Northern Bank robbery?
"If so, he finds himself in disagreement with the First Minister's publically-stated position on the matter."
In February 2005 Mr Robinson said that senior Sinn Fein members were involved in the bank robbery and added: "In no other society would those who are believed to have knowledge of a bank robbery be left untouched because of their political positions."
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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