Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Some years ago TUV produced a fact sheet outlining how Martin McGuinness could become First Minister.
“As we pointed out, under the Belfast Agreement the First Minister and deputy First Minister were elected jointly on a cross-community vote, thus affording Unionism and Nationalism a veto, whereby Unionists could insist on the First Minister coming from the biggest tradition.
“The legislation flowing from St Andrews changed this and provided that instead the First Minister would come from the biggest party, thus opening the door to a Sinn Fein First Minister being foisted on a Unionist majority in the Assembly.
“The Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill was only introduced by the government after its contents were settled at secret proximity talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein in London in November 2006, talks from which any possible dissenters within the DUP were excluded. The DUP’s fingerprints are all over this legislative change because they thought it would be terribly clever to have the threat of a Sinn Fein First Minister as a means of coercing unionists into voting DUP. The real test of the DUP’s attitude to this dastardly change is found in what they said and did when Parliament debated the Bill.
“There was no objection from any DUP MP in the Commons.
“When the Bill went to the House of Lords on 22nd November 2006 a UUP amendment to remove the provision whereby the First Minister would come from the biggest party was debated and voted upon. Whereas two DUP peers, Lords Morrow and Browne voted in favour of the amendment, when that vote was lost and the original and objectionable Clause 8 was voted upon, the DUP peers voted in favour of it, while UUP peers voted against.
“Thus, in the House of Lords DUP peers actually voted in favour of the Clause in the Bill which permits Martin McGuinness to become First Minister!
“It is crystal clear that the DUP was complicit in permitting the legislative change which allows McGuinness to be foisted as First Minister on a Unionist majority in the Assembly. How the DUP sold the Unionist title deeds to the office of First Minister is one of the most shameful escapades of roll-over unionism.
“When the DUP therefore tries to play the fear card over their partner becoming First Minister, their hypocrisy is obvious.
“There is no point in pretending outrage over McGuinness switching positions with the DUP leader when it was the DUP which thought this change in the law so politically expedient.
“This issue throws up questions the DUP must answer. Not just the question, every time the DUP raises the spectre, of why not one of their MPs voted against it, but will they serve under McGuinness?”
Note to editors
You can read the complete fact sheet which walks through the legislative process here.