Burrows slams nationalist 'circus' in Cardiff - saying SNP, Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru event changes nothing
A meeting in Cardiff between nationalist leaders from across the United Kingdom was a “charade and a circus” – and people in each nation are stronger together, Jon Burrows has said.
The Ulster Unionist leader was speaking in the Assembly as MLAs discussed a meeting between the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – at which they argued the union was coming to an end.
However, Stormont’s joint leader was quick to point out that Michelle O’Neill had “no authority to sign anything at the summit on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland”.
Emma Little-Pengelly spoke from the DUP backbenches to criticise the leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin for pushing for the break-up of the United Kingdom rather than dealing with the “many challenges” people face.
"Let us be very clear about what this is: it is a summit of separatists, arguing from a minority position and pushing forward a wreckers' charter, focusing on constitutional issues and the destruction of the Union, at a time when the people whom we serve want us to work together to deliver change in health, in education, to our roads and to our infrastructure — working to actually deliver for people”, she said.
Mr Burrows said the Cardiff event was “not three devolved nations gathering for a conference on the break-up of the United Kingdom; it is three nationalist politicians signing each other's manifestos”.
He added: “It counts for absolutely nothing. It is just the same as Donald Trump's loud voice. He has a loud voice but zero votes. Zero votes because the people of Northern Ireland are in charge of their constitutional future — not the leader of Plaid Cymru or the leader of the SNP or Donald Trump but the people of Northern Ireland”.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the signing of a joint memorandum of understanding between the leaders of the regional parties was “historic”. Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, Ms McDonald said: “It is that moment where we assert collectively our inalienable right to decide our futures.”
The SNP boss John Swinney said there should be “no obstacle” to those in the three devolved nations being “able to determine their own future”.