Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt MLA has called on Sammy Wilson MP to apologise for the obvious offence caused by his agreement with the member of the public who suggested Northern Ireland should ‘get the ethnics out.’
Mike Nesbitt said:
“It was stomach churning to hear such a senior politician offer such little compassion for fellow human beings. I want a Northern Ireland people are proud to be born in, to live in, to visit, and to settle in.
“Our ethnic minorities make vital contributions to our society with their work in the public and private sector and in the voluntary and community groups that are part of the fabric of our society.
“Some, of course, are here not because they want to be, but because they need help. Some do want to go back to where they came from, eventually, but meanwhile we need to help them. Some may want to settle here because it’s a great country, despite people like Sammy Wilson.
“Sometimes people ask me what’s the difference between the Ulster Unionists and the DUP, and I would talk about the DUP being isolationist and little Northern Irelanders. Having listened to Sammy Wilson`s remarks, I don't think anyone needs to ask me to justify that statement anymore.
“I would encourage the ethnic population of East Antrim to visit or contact Sammy Wilson to give their view to him directly about what he has been caught saying regarding our ethnic minorities.”