Paisley calls for unionist walkout
Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley today called for a Unionist walkout from the Northern Ireland Executive.
As his party tried to have a motion debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly excluding Sinn Fein Ministers from the power-sharing government, the North Antrim MP confirmed he had written to Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble asking him “to join with us in resigning from ministerial office.
“I have also provided the speaker of the Assembly with a letter to be opened upon receipt of a letter of resignation from Mr Trimble and confirmation of the resignations of his Ulster Unionist ministerial colleagues.”
Mr Paisley made the call after a Sinn Fein official at Stormont was remanded in custody last night for possessing information which was likely to be of use to terrorists.
Earlier Ulster Unionist leader Mr Trimble claimed allegations that republicans infiltrated the Government’s headquarters in Belfast at the Northern Ireland office were bigger than Watergate.
Mr Trimble, who is the First Minister of the power-sharing executive, said the Northern Ireland Office had questions to answer about the breach of security.
He also said while he had ideas about how his party would handle the current crisis, a lot would depend on his meeting with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in London tomorrow who could change his mind.
Mr Paisley said today that the letter he had given the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Lord Alderdice would guarantee the removal of the DUP’s two ministers, Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds from their respective departments if Mr Trimble’s party also withdrew.
He continued: “As always, the DUP has led the way and we trust Mr Trimble will, for once, have the courage to take the necessary step to give effect to the wishes of the unionist community.
“The path marked out by the Belfast Agreement has been a fruitless one for unionists.”
