Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt has poured scorn on Arlene Foster’s claim that her party are strong negotiators and has challenged her on whether the DUP will do another U turn on the issue of a Terrorist Shrine on the site of the old Maze Prison.

Mike Nesbitt said:

“The DUP always talk tough when there is an election coming up, but on closer examination their claims to be strong negotiators carry about as much weight as Arlene Foster’s denial of responsibility for the RHI scandal.

“If we go back to the really important negotiations - those that led to the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998, the DUP’s strong negotiating tactic was to stand outside the gates shouting ‘Lundy’.  Arlene Foster should remember; she was inside the gates negotiating on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party at the time. 

“Fast forward to the negotiations which led to the St Andrews Agreement.  A negotiation where the DUP were in the driving seat for unionism.  What was included in their ‘red line’ negotiations?  More money for the North West 200 Road Race and support for a private development at the Giants Causeway.  Their previous demand for the disbandment of the PIRA Army Council melted like snow off a ditch.

“Time and time again over these past years, the DUP have proven themselves untrustworthy - whether in government or in negotiations.  Why? Because they always have themselves, not the country as their number one priority.  The party comes first.  All they have been able to successfully negotiate has been a series of carve ups between themselves and Sinn Fein to keep themselves in power.

“I challenge Arlene Foster to confirm that she will not go back to her previous stance of supporting what I and many other people consider a proposal for a Shrine to Terrorism as part of the Maze redevelopment.  The Ulster Unionist Party states plainly that a Shrine at the Maze must not be on the agenda post this election.”