Ulster Unionist Chief Whip, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has called on Arlene Foster to clarify who is speaking for the DUP on Brexit negotiations given that she is calling for ‘cool heads’ whilst other representatives of her party are quoted calling for ‘guerilla war’ and talk of ‘going to squeeze their balls until their ears bleed’.

Mr Aiken said:

“It doesn`t often happen but I actually agree with Arlene Foster when she calls for ‘cool heads’ as the European Council summit approaches on Wednesday. However her comments are in direct contradiction to comments attributed to senior members of her party. We’ve read reports of DUP representatives threatening ‘guerilla war’ and a senior party official, on the basis of anonymity, stating that they ‘are going to squeeze their balls until their ears bleed’.

“Mrs Foster needs to clarify who it is represents the DUP view on BREXIT negotiations. Does Mrs Foster represent the views of the DUP when she calls for ‘cool heads in what is a very febrile atmosphere’, is it the DUP`s Westminster Leader when he talks of crippling the Government's domestic agenda, which I assume could include health, welfare, business, defence or is it an anonymous senior party official who speaks of 'squeezing their balls until their ears bled'?

“These are absolutely crucial days ahead in the history of our country and we must be absolutely focused on achieving a sensible Brexit deal and holding the government to account, but the type of reckless language being bandied about by some members of the DUP does nothing to win friends for unionism when we need every friend we can get. So who does speak for the DUP?”