The Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Robin Swann MLA, has called on the Prime Minister to take decisive action to begin a talks process even if Sinn Fein has indeed given up on Stormont.
Robin Swann MLA said:
“In his comments on BBC’s ‘The View’ last night, Mairtin O Muilleoir MLA demonstrated clearly that Sinn Fein has now disengaged from Stormont.
“Sinn Fein’s only train of thought on the 30th of March – in the event of a no deal Brexit - is to demand a border poll. Furthermore, it is at that very stage they want the British & Irish governments to sit down and discuss what a poll would look like. So, Sinn Fein’s grand plan is for even greater flux and uncertainty at a time when we will already be facing a time of unprecedented uncertainty.
“And it is hypocritical in the extreme for a party that was anti EU up until a few years ago to accuse others of u-turns.
“The people of Northern Ireland are suffering badly as Stormont lies idle. I have said directly to the Prime Minister that if Sinn Fein aren't willing or don't want to get involved in talks to restore Devolution, then they should be allowed to exclude themselves and let the rest of us get on with it. Sinn Fein is a party that prides itself on its abstentionist policy in Westminster, so if that is now its policy for Stormont, it can no longer be allowed to hold Northern Ireland back.”