DUP declines chance to deny that there is a split with Sinn Fein about ending lockdown

The DUP leader struck a different tone from Sinn Fein, who gave no such commitment to an exit from lockdown and said only that the matter would be reviewed on Friday November 13.

“The restrictions in the north will be reviewed by the Executive in line with medical and scientific advice.” a party spokesperson said.

The News Letter then asked the DUP if this was a sign of a split between the two key parties in the Stormont power-sharing executive.

A spokesperson for the party declined the opportunity to deny such a divergence in views, and merely reiterated a statement from Arlene Foster that said: “Northern Ireland schools will reopen on Monday 2 November and our current restrictions will end on Friday 13 November as planned.

“We must adapt and evolve as a society to be able to coexist with the virus.

“Central to this is increasing the capacity of our hospitals, our testing system but also personal responsibility. We must all play our part.”

The chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill, welcomed the prospect of reopening, saying it had just come just in time for NI employers as furlough had been due to end yesterday. But yesterday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the furlough scheme will be extended for another month.

Mr Neill told the News Letter: “We very much welcome this extension but I think it is typical that it only came into place when England needed it.”

He added: “We have actually been in lockdown for two weeks. Whereas the 80% furlough for our staff then?

“Over the past two weeks I know employers who went to the bank to borrow just so they could give their staff some money.

“All the employer will have to do in this new scheme is pay the pension and National Insurance contributions, but this is still money if you haven’t got any,” he said.

The Department of Health announced there had been a further 21 Covid-related deaths over the weekend bringing the death toll, based on positive tests, to 716 so far.

As of last night 93% of NI hospital beds were full, with 361 Covid patients out of a total of 2,681. There were 12 available Intensive Care Unit Beds out of 111.

Mr Neill said the prime minister revealed in a weekend press conference that he was optimistic about how the economy would look in April.

“Well then, the scheme needs to run right through the dark months until April, not just for four weeks,” he added.

Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy said last night he had pressed “for months” for the extension of furlough and so he welcomed it. He added: “It remains unclear whether the furlough scheme will be extended beyond the end of November, and I will be pressing for this.”

Mr Murphy said: “The weeks and months ahead will continue to be very challenging – businesses and workers need certainty that the support offered by the furlough scheme will remain in place.

“The executive is doing everything in its power to support the economy and Treasury must do the same by providing certainty at the earliest possible opportunity.”

First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted on Saturday that she had a useful call with Cabinet Minister Michael Gove on Saturday. “NI schools will reopen on Monday and our current restrictions will end on 13 November as planned,” she said. “We must adapt to coexist with the virus. That means increasing hospital & testing capacity.”

Sinn Fein confirmed last night that the English restrictions do not apply to NI. However, in light of recent differences between the DUP and Sinn Fein on the severity of restrictions needed, the fact that the republican party nodded to a pending review of restrictions could spell tensions.

“The measures put in place by the Executive to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic are based on the medical and scientific advice relating to the north,” the party said.

“The restrictions in the north are unchanged as a result of the steps announced by British prime minister Boris Johnson. The restrictions in the north will be reviewed by the executive in line with medical and scientific advice.

“Everyone should continue to follow the public health advice, wash their hands, practise social distancing, and wear a face covering where appropriate in order to save lives, keep people safe and protect our health service.”

In England, from Thursday until December 2, pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will close and people must stay at home unless except for exemptions. Schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open. People will be allowed outside to exercise and socialise with their household or one other person and will be able to travel to work if they can’t work from home. In NI, pubs and restaurants closed for four weeks from October 16 and schools closed for two weeks. Retail is open, along with gyms for individual training. People should work from home where possible and avoid unnncessary travel.

UUP Lord Empey has said the announcement of a lockdown in England shows how out of touch some elected representatives in NI and England have been about the seriousness of the Covid crisis.

“Governments around the world have been wrestling with the dilemmas caused by this crisis and here in Northern Ireland we have our own awkward squad of deniers” he said.

• See Morning View, Letters

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