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18/05/2022
DUP Accuse SF And SDLP Of A 'Powergrab'
The DUP's Sammy Wilson has accused Sinn Féin and the SDLP of not caring about the views of unionists, expecting them to "sit in a corner and be quiet".
Speaking at Westminster, Wilson said: "Since the election, the SDLP and Sinn Fein attitude to unionists has been 'sit there and be quiet'. Well unionists will not be quiet. With not a single unionist MLA or MP supporting the Protocol, we will be making our voices heard. We have been raising our lack of support for the Protocol for more than two years. We have been reasonable and patient.
"Carla Lockhart rightly referenced John Hume's commitment to powersharing in the House of Commons yesterday. The bad-mannered response from Claire Hanna left the House of Commons in shock. People say things in the heat of the moment, but Claire should apologise to Carla.
"John Hume did not believe in majority rule, yet it seems that the SDLP and SF, aided by their wee helpers in the Alliance Party, have developed a fondness for majority rule. They want a powergrab rather than powersharing. They want to ignore the views of unionists.
"The cosy coalition of Alliance, SF and SDLP MLAs may want unionists to sit in the corner in silence but our vision is one of Northern Ireland where there is genuine powerharing, where there is genuine commitment to catering for unionists and nationalists and where respect is not a one-way street.
"If we can restore Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom, then the prize is great. The prize is stable devolution and the integrity of the EU and UK markets protected."
Speaking at Westminster, Wilson said: "Since the election, the SDLP and Sinn Fein attitude to unionists has been 'sit there and be quiet'. Well unionists will not be quiet. With not a single unionist MLA or MP supporting the Protocol, we will be making our voices heard. We have been raising our lack of support for the Protocol for more than two years. We have been reasonable and patient.
"Carla Lockhart rightly referenced John Hume's commitment to powersharing in the House of Commons yesterday. The bad-mannered response from Claire Hanna left the House of Commons in shock. People say things in the heat of the moment, but Claire should apologise to Carla.
"John Hume did not believe in majority rule, yet it seems that the SDLP and SF, aided by their wee helpers in the Alliance Party, have developed a fondness for majority rule. They want a powergrab rather than powersharing. They want to ignore the views of unionists.
"The cosy coalition of Alliance, SF and SDLP MLAs may want unionists to sit in the corner in silence but our vision is one of Northern Ireland where there is genuine powerharing, where there is genuine commitment to catering for unionists and nationalists and where respect is not a one-way street.
"If we can restore Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom, then the prize is great. The prize is stable devolution and the integrity of the EU and UK markets protected."
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Delegations from the SDLP and Sinn Féin have met with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair today in London for another round of high level talks aimed at breaking the political impasse in Northern Ireland.
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UUP threatening 'demolition' of the Agreement say's Durkan
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UUP threatening 'demolition' of the Agreement say's Durkan
SDLP leader Mark Durkan has told a fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference that the peace process is "in crisis" and, in a vociferous rebuke of unionist politicians, accused them of "a threatened demolition derby of the entire Good Friday Agreement".
09 November 2022
No NI Election Before April 2023
No election will be held in Northern Ireland before April 2023, the UK government has confirmed, as they extend the deadline for the formation of the Executive and "appropriately" reduce MLA's pay.
No NI Election Before April 2023
No election will be held in Northern Ireland before April 2023, the UK government has confirmed, as they extend the deadline for the formation of the Executive and "appropriately" reduce MLA's pay.
25 September 2001
SDLP warn brinkmanship tactics jeopardise assembly
An SDLP politician has warned that brinkmanship politics by both unionists and republicans is threatening the future of the Good Friday Agreement.
SDLP warn brinkmanship tactics jeopardise assembly
An SDLP politician has warned that brinkmanship politics by both unionists and republicans is threatening the future of the Good Friday Agreement.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
