Arlene Foster defends her MP who describes exit strategy as ‘clear as mud’ adding it would have been ‘completely different’ if DUP had been in charge

Mrs Foster was speaking after the official launch of the Pathway to Recovery plan today, which has already drawn intense criticism for not providing any specific dates for relaxation of pandemic restrictions.Asked this evening why one of her MPs Carla Lockhart, had described the plan as being “as clear as mud” the First Minister and DUP leader replied: “Because, as I said, she is a DUP MP, she is entitled to that opinion. I have to try and find consensus in the Executive. Of course if it was a single party DUP Executive it would be a completely different plan and I think that is very clear for everybody.”

Asked if the content of the strategy had been a unanimous decision by Stormont Executive Ministers, she told UTV that she would have preferred faster movement on some issues, in particular the reopening of schools.

“Yes it was a unanimous decision. I think it is important that we do have consensus at this time,” she said. “Obviously some of us take different views in relation to the speed as to how we should go about things.”I would have preferred that the schools would have opened completely on the 8th of March however the consensus of other Executive ministers was not there.”I very much hope that in the middle of March we can give that certainty so that we can bring young people back to school after Easter because I think that it is really important to have that.”Asked to clarify if the strategy had been unanimously approved at the Executive she replied: “Well there was no vote, it was by consensus that we came to the decision in relation to the document.”

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