Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has warned the Secretary of State against allowing Sinn Fein and the DUP to get away with further backroom deals.
Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:
“With what looks like a degree of choreography now emerging between Sinn Fein and the DUP, they should be under no doubt that Northern Ireland needs devolution restored on the basis of respect, integrity and transparency. They have been allowed by previous Secretaries of State to get away with doing backroom deals without any regard to the impact that the nature of their polarising politics is having on the wider community. Julian Smith has an opportunity to rectify that.
“This isn`t about going back on Sinn Fein and DUP terms. They need to recognise that they wrecked the institutions before Sinn Fein pulled them down. A lot of work will need to be done to restore confidence and sustainability. We need to get back to the factory settings of the Belfast Agreement.
“We need politicians in place to take important decisions on the state of emergency facing our health service. The Secretary of State must no longer pander to Sinn Fein as they continue to block the restoration of the Assembly and an Executive. If they continue to self-exclude, then other parties who want to make progress should be allowed to do so. Enough is enough.”