RHI scandal: DUP MLAs virtually alone at Foster statement

Virtually no-one except the DUP have turned up to chamber of the Stormont Assembly, as the First Minister prepared to give her much-anticipated statement on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Dec 2016, 10:49 BST
Updated 29th Dec 2016, 15:02 BST
First Minister Arlene FosterFirst Minister Arlene Foster
First Minister Arlene Foster

The speaker Robin Newton told a chamber empty of MLAs from the DUP’s partners in government, Sinn Fein, that the aim of the session was to hear both a statement from Arlene Foster, and a motion to have her step aside.

Jim Allister, TUV leader, raised a point of order – but what he said was scarcely audible, because no microphone was picking up his words clearly.

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The speaker then said that since Mrs Foster’s statement had only been received 15 minutes before the 10.30am sitting, he was suspending the sitting for half an hour to give MLAs a chance to read it.

Afterwards, Mr Allister told the media that what had happened this morning was a “farce”.

He said that Mrs Foster should do “the honourable thing” and resign, adding: “This is an Executive and a joint office which is breaking apart” – concluding that he would “shed no tears” over that.

Mike Nesbitt, UUP leader, meanwhile told the media that he had been to the UK mainland over the weekend, and that Northern Ireland’s government has been left the object of ridicule by the whole scandal.

More to follow.

Related topics:Jim AllisterFirst MinisterRobin NewtonMLAsDUP