Tensions between unionist parties explode as MP Sammy Wilson is accused of a ‘pathetic’ attempt to undermine Robin Swann over Covid

The parties have been at loggerheads since the DUP blocked two separate proposals from Robin Swann to extend restrictions by triggering a cross-community vote last week.

And renewing his party’s attack on the UUP minister today, MP Sammy Wilson said Health Minister Robin Swann should concentrate on the health service and not “destroying the economy” in the fight against coronavirus.

Mr Wilson said the health minister was not using enough resources within his own department to slow transmission, in an interview with the BBC.

He added: “I think that Robin Swann would be much better concentrating on how he can improve the health service in order to deal with coronavirus rather than how he can destroy the economy in order to deal with the failings of his own department and of himself as a minister.

“If there is strain on the health service, and he says there is, those hospitals which are redundant and not being used at present, why doesn’t he bring those into operation so he can have more beds if needed?”

Mr Wilson said his party would not hesitate to use the veto again, adding: “We have made it quite clear that our aim is to ensure the economy is not further damaged and that we will ensure there is no unnecessary restrictions placed on business when there are alternative measures which can be used.

“If that requires using the veto again, then of course we will do it, because we believe there should be a balanced approach.”

Mr Wilson went on: “There are many medical professionals, some of whom are now being silenced, who are saying lockdowns are not the right way of dealing with this. Consultants who spoke out at the start of the week are now being threatened with discipline for speaking out.”

But the comments brought a furious response from UUP leader Steve Aiken, who accused the MP of attempting to undermine Northern Ireland`s Health Minister in the middle of a pandemic.

Mr Aiken said: “This is more of the same pathetic petty party-political point scoring from the DUP. Sammy Wilson attempting to undermine a unionist minister in the middle of a pandemic is hitting a new low, even for the DUP.

“It is clear that Sammy Wilson has won the DUP`s internal battles

“This is a man who was pictured on the London Underground not wearing a face covering and has regularly undermined public health messages.

“As for his unfounded criticism of Robin Swann, it was the DUP which ran away from taking the Health portfolio in January. They ducked it twice.

“He should have read the Health Minister`s statement to the Assembly yesterday. The key issue facing the Health Service is staffing capacity. There are over 5,000 vacancies across the Health and Social Care system and that`s a direct result of years of underfunding by the Executive. It`s a pity Sammy Wilson and his colleagues never did anything to resolve that instead of blundering about until the Executive collapsed.

“If Sammy Wilson wants to talk about damage to the economy, he should speak to his DUP colleague, Economy Minister Diane Dodds who is presiding over a chaotic Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme which has failed to deliver for the vast majority of businesses which have applied for it.

“Half a billion pounds are sitting in the Executive’s coffers and the DUP Economy Minister can`t get support to the businesses which are pleading for it.”