The Ulster Unionist Party Executive met in Portadown on Saturday. Following the meeting, Ulster Unionist Leader Robin Swann MLA said:

“We had an in depth discussion about recent political developments, including the NIO’s legacy consultation and the ongoing political paralysis which led to Northern Ireland losing its chance to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

"People are becoming increasingly angry at the unfair, unbalanced and disproportionate focus on former members of the security forces while the government could be sleepwalking into a process for which the only outcome will be the rewriting of history.

"Our Executive also expressed its frustration at the ongoing political paralysis which manifested itself again with the announcement that Northern Ireland had lost the opportunity to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. The Government can’t just sit on the sidelines and let things drift any longer for fear of upsetting Sinn Fein or the DUP. If there are not going to be any realistic or imaginative attempts to restore devolution in some format then the Government needs to step up and step in.”

The following motions were passed by the Ulster Unionist Party Executive at their meeting in Portadown on Saturday 23 June.

Motion 1

The Ulster Unionist Party Executive is extremely concerned at current proposals on Legacy. Any structures should be fair, balanced and proportionate. We encourage people throughout the United Kingdom to respond to the consultation on dealing with the past.

The Ulster Unionist Party will not be part of any strategy which facilitates terrorist apologists to rewrite history.

Motion 2

The Ulster Unionist Party is extremely disappointed at the attitude of the Secretary of State and Her Majesty’s Government in regard to Northern Ireland losing the chance to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

This is yet another example of the Government allowing political paralysis to take hold. We urge the Secretary of State and Her Majesty’s Government to take action to restore devolution or else appoint Government Ministers who can make decisions for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland.