Sinn Fein talks walk-out: 'If people want to be petulant it is up to them' says Ulster Unionist leader

According to the DUP, the fact that Mrs McDonald had not been invited was a case of diplomatic niceties; since the man hosting the talks – UK foreign minister James Cleverly – has yet to meet Ireland’s foreign minister, custom dictates that it would not be proper to meet Mrs McDonald – the leader of the opposition in Ireland – first.

Sinn Fein could have attended, led by regional leader Michelle O’Neill, but opted not to, and in solidarity the SDLP likewise refused to attend.

The DUP, Alliance, and UUP all turned up for the talks as scheduled, where issues including the Northern Ireland Protocol were discussed with Mr Cleverly.

More here: TUV asks why Mary Lou McDonald feels entitled to be part of talks about NI when she has 'no mandate' here

UUP leader Doug Beattie told the News Letter: “This was never about personalities; this is about political parties. Sinn Fein were not excluded.

“They could’ve attended with two members, the same as the Ulster Unionist party could have attended with two members, so no political party was excluded.

"This is purely down to diplomatic norms. And if somebody wants to be [displaying] a big degree of petulance about this, then that’s really up to them.

"The reality was we’ve an opportunity here to do things for the whole of Northern Ireland, and it was missing having nationalist representatives at the all-round talks.”

On the subject of the SDLP staging a sympathy walk-out with Sinn Fein, Mr Beattie said: “The SDLP made their decisions. I don’t know why. That’s a decision for them.

"Like I said – Sinn Fein were not excluded. They could have been there. They chose not to be there.

"For me the UUP will always be there where there’s an opportunity to put our point across.”

As to the value of the talks, he said: “I think every meeting has value. I think it’s important to keep talking and hear other people’s perspectives, whether they’re the DUP or the Alliance or whether it was the foreign secretary and Secretary of State.

"And they listened to the UUP’s perspectives. We had the opportunity to explain some of the concerns we had about not being kept briefed on exactly the direction the talks are taking [between the EU and UK, on resolving the Protocol impasse].

"It was quite clear from the Secretary of State that things are moving in the right direction, although quite slowly.”

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