Emma Little-Pengelly 'fulfilled her responsibilities' by attending UK security briefing on Iran strikes - DUP leader
Stormont’s deputy First Minister fulfilled the responsibility of her office by attending a UK government security briefing on Iran – a meeting which her Sinn Fein counterpart missed – the DUP leader has said.
Gavin Robinson’s comments came after criticism that First Minister Michelle O’Neill did not join UK regional leaders at the briefing, which was attended by Emma Little Pengelly and the Scottish and Welsh first ministers.
The jointly-run Sinn Fein and DUP ministry has said the DUP minister attended “on behalf of the Executive Office”. Ms O’Neill said she “engaged right over the weekend” and that her focus “is the safety of Irish citizens, of British citizens that are living out there”.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at the weekend in a wave of US and Israeli strikes on the country. The United Kingdom was not involved, but the Prime Minister has agreed to an American request to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites.
The DUP and Sinn Fein are divided over the conflict, with Ms O’Neill saying she “fundamentally disagrees” with the war and with the UK government’s approach.
Gavin Robinson told reporters at Stormont on Monday that the UK has deployed service personnel in the Middle East “in the pursuit of democracy and against the evil regime that is Iran”. The East Belfast MP said: “There are too many people involved in politics that turn a blind eye to evil doers throughout the world. They take no interest, in fact. When they show an interest, it's to build relations and to be friends with those who are involved in the pursuit of terror. “We've had enough of them in this country, but we elect people into high office in Northern Ireland – and to assume responsible positions of first and deputy first minister. Just as they did in Wales, just as they did in Scotland.
“I play no games with saying I'm pleased that Emma Little Pengelly was prepared to fulfil the responsibilities of her office. There's one democracy in the Middle East. It's Israel, and it's continually and repeatedly attacked by those who wish to destroy it, sponsored by Iran”.
Michelle O’Neill said it was “a reckless war” that “should never have begun”. The Sinn Fein leader said: “Where is this all going to end? Because over the course of the last 48 hours, things are really spiralling out of control”.