No explanation from DUP leadership for forcing through bill and not even a whimper from the party’s rank and file

The silence from the DUP back benches is deafening in the face of the treacherous attempt to force through a bill in Stormont that virtually gives Sinn Fein ministers unfettered powers to repeat the actions of Martin McGuinness in the first power-sharing assembly.
By Ivan Foster
Published 28th Jul 2020, 09:47 BST
Updated 28th Jul 2020, 10:13 BST
Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

He, as education minister, decided to abolish the 11-Plus examinations without the least consultation with the rest of the executive.

Just what madness is it that has gained utter control of the DUP membership that it is prepared to surrender its intellectual thought processes (such as they are), their political convictions (such as they are), their consciences (if they have not suffered the ‘hot iron searing’ spoken of in God’s Word, 1 Timothy 4:2) and abandon all honour and honesty in order to surrender yet again to those who make no secret of their desire and unceasing designs to destroy Northern Ireland?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Neither does the DUP leadership utter a word to explain why it is pressing this matter nor is there a whimper from the rank and file.

Rev Ivan Foster, Kilskeery, Co Tyrone

• News story: MLAs overwhelmingly vote through controversial bill to give ministers more power

• Morning View: The DUP is now answerable for the implications of reform bill that has been rushed through Stormont

• Jim Allister: The plan to unfetter powers of Stormont ministers must be delayed for crucial scrutiny

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

• News story: Crucial ‘veto’ claim now dropped by Arlene Foster, leaked DUP note shows as vote on key bill looms

• Doug Beattie: It is madness to hand ministers more unchecked powers, and hard to understand why DUP is backing it

• Richard Bullick: The DUP won key safeguards for unionism, yet seems to be sleepwalking into removing them

• News story: Arlene Foster still backs ‘dangerous’ law – but offers no rebuttal of ex-aide’s warning

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

• Sam McBride: With the incurious scrutinising the inept, Stormont is sinking lower into disrepute

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor

Related topics:DUPMartin McGuinnessSinn FeinNorthern IrelandArlene Foster