Robinson May Force Election Over Cap Badge

There's major row brewing over plans to drop the British Crown from the cap badge of the NI Prisons Service.

Sinn Fein this afternoon has been tackling comments from the DUP Leader and Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson (pictured) threatening resignation over necessary the reforms.

Sinn Fein Assembly Group Leader Raymond McCartney said: "Peter Robinson needs to calm down.

"Prison reform needs to be allowed to take its course without this sort of intervention," he said, after Mr Robinson warned he is prepared to resign if the Justice Minister, David Ford forces through changes to the prison service's emblems.

David Ford told the Assembly this week that changes in the culture of the service, including how it looks and operates, would have to be considered.

However, Mr Robinson said dropping the Crown as an emblem of the service would not happen on his watch.

"I will resign and take this matter to the electorate," he said.

"It will be blocked, it is simply not on the agenda, and indeed, if David Ford ties this to his prison reform as something that is an inescapable part of the prison reform, then he will damage his whole project," he has been reported as saying.

However, Sinn Fein responded: "At this time of great economic challenges for the Executive the people expect their political leaders to be getting on with the job not engaging in this type of behaviour.

"We did not hear threats of resignation when the British government removed £4bn from the block grant.

"There are big challenges out there and threatening resignations and elections is not what people voted for last May and it is not helpful," the party's Raymond McCartney said.

No Decision

Late this afternoon, Justice Minister David Ford has said that no decisions have been taken in relation to symbols in prisons.

"As everyone will be aware, we are currently engaged in an extensive programme of reform within the prison system, but no decisions have been taken in relation to symbols, and there are currently no proposals on my desk in relation to symbols.

"I have had discussions today with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister about Prison Reform.

"It is clear from those discussions that there are significant and controversial aspects of the reform programme that should be considered by the Executive. I agree, indeed some aspects of the programme require a cross-departmental approach and I have already written to colleagues about that.

"At the same time there are aspects of the reform programme that are my responsibility to consider, just as there will be aspects for Prison Service management to consider.

"The challenge for all of us collectively is to work together to deliver the level of prison reform that our community needs," he said.

See: Prison Service Badge To Lose 'Crown'

(BMcC/GK)