Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The deception of the ‘Keep Arlene First Minister’ pitch is staggering.
*The DUP’s partner in government, McGuinness, is already Joint First Minister – Arlene can’t even sign a letter without him co-signing. The First Minister has no powers on her own.
*It is the DUP that has sustained IRA/Sinn Fein at the top and heart of government for 9 years. As soon as the election is over the DUP will restore McGuinness as Joint First Minister.
*It was the DUP that connived to create the threat of a Sinn Fein First Minister. Bad as the Belfast Agreement was, at least it provided the First Minister must come from the biggest tradition. The DUP allowed the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 (s 8) to change that to ‘the largest party’ so as to create the very circumstances where they could try and coerce reluctant voters to vote DUP! (Not a single DUP MP voted or spoke against a change which they wanted.)
*If the DUP is sincere in wanting to keep McGuinness away from the paper title of ‘First Minister’, then, why won’t they pledge not to nominate a deputy First Minister, because McGuinness could only be First Minister if the DUP nominates a deputy. That is the law. The fact the DUP won’t make this pledge demonstrates their scaremongering is designed solely to obtain votes by duress.
“I say to every voter “don’t play their game – vote with your conscience against DUP/Sinn Fein misrule. Vote TUV No 1 – the party that opposes Sinn Fein all the time, not just at election time.”