DUP called on 'stop playing party politics'
Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Armstrong has called on the DUP to "stop playing party politics and start working for the good of all the people of Northern Ireland".
Mr Armstrong claimed Police Board member William Hay’s participation in a television studio debate on the Omagh bomb alongside West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty marked a public extension of the party’s policy of engagement with Sinn Fein.
Noting DUP politicians already sit on Assembly committees, Mr Armstrong claimed Mr Hay’s appearance on UTV’s Insight programme on Thursday night proved ‘‘that given time the DUP will take up their positions publicly with Sinn Fein in all aspects of government’’.
‘‘I welcome what is, in effect, a reversal of DUP party policy not to take part in media interviews with Sinn Fein/IRA,’’ he said.
‘‘It seems the DUP are realising that they cannot be hypocrites in this particular issue.’’
The Mid Ulster MLA alleged that since the formation of the Assembly, his rivals in the DUP had pretended in public they did not have any communication with Sinn Fein inside or outside Parliament Buildings.
DUP politicians had, however, been sitting on Assembly committees and local councils with Sinn Fein, he noted.
‘‘All the shouting and ranting in front of television cameras concerning the Ulster Unionist Party talking to Sinn Fein/IRA is just DUP propaganda to divide the unionist people,’’ Mr Armstrong said.
‘‘Perhaps now the DUP will stop playing party politics and start working for the good of all the people of Northern Ireland.
‘‘It is time they stopped talking of wrecking the Assembly and begin to get on with the job to which they have been entrusted.’’
