DUP's Buckley warns nationalists would be 'affronted' at TUV proposals to replace current Stormont arrangements
A DUP MLA has rejected proposals from the TUV to get rid of the Executive and replace it with UK ministers, saying it that nationalists would be “affronted” by the idea.
Jonathan Buckley made the comments as Jim Allister expressed cynicism about a DUP offer to have talks on unionist unity, floated in the News Letter at the weekend.
Mr Buckley, the DUP’s director of elections, invited the leaders of the three main unionist parties to talks on cooperation – saying pro-Union voters are “sick, sore and tired” of infighting.
The proposal was endorsed by his own party, and is understood to have had the support of leader Gavin Robinson. Mr Buckley’s opinion piece in the News Letter was also shared with party members at the weekend.
A letter to Gavin Robinson, Jon Burrows and Jim Allister was emailed early on Saturday morning. It said there is a “genuine yearning among our people for unionist leaders to put aside personal and party interests”.
However, the manner of the approach has prompted criticism from the other unionist parties. UUP boss Jon Burrows said “a phone call minutes before a public letter is published is no substitute for proper engagement”.
The TUV said the first conversation between its leader and Mr Buckley in relation to the offer for talks was on the BBC’s Nolan Show on Monday morning.
During that exchange, the Upper Bann MLA questioned Mr Allister on what approach he would take to the future of the Assembly, to which the TUV leader said that it is the Executive which doesn’t work.
“I would look at this and basically, what parts work, what parts don't? And the part that doesn't work, surprise, surprise, is the executive.
“Because Sinn Féin is not in government to make Northern Ireland work. The legislative function works reasonably well, the scrutiny function works reasonably well – so I would retain those.
“And I would go for a hybrid form of devolution, whereby ministers of the Westminster origin would bring their laws, unlike direct rule, to the assembly, be subject to the scrutiny of the assembly, and at least we’d get government and we’d get a budget.
“At the moment, they’re floundering, getting none of those things”, he said. Mr Buckley said they were “proposals that are worth consideration”.
“But let's talk about the real political world. Stephen [Nolan] mentioned earlier that there are a significant proportion of those people within Northern Ireland, as they're entitled to, that are nationalists, and would be affronted by the proposal that you suggest”, he said.
Mr Allister asked why they would be affronted by the national elected government having a say “subject to the control of a local elected Assembly”.
“All we know is you are the director of elections for the DUP with a with an overriding... burden to maximise the return of DUP at a time when their seats are in jeopardy”, the TUV boss said.
Mr Buckley said he didn’t want decisions being taken by a Labour Secretary of State “combined with Dublin influence and Northern Ireland and unionism in a weaker place”. Mr Allister said that scenario was outside the Belfast Agreement.