Statement by TUV South Down spokesperson councillor Harold McKee:
“In the recent Assembly election, the DUP went to great lengths to avoid answering a simple question – would they nominate a stooge deputy to a Sinn Fein First Minister? At no stage did the leadership address an issue which came up time and time again on the doorsteps. Now that the election is behind us, Lord Dodds is the latest senior figure in the DUP to say that they are prepared to do just that.
“Speaking in the Lords last night, he advised that, “the DUP has no difficulty in re-entering the executive with a Sinn Fein First Minister.“
“Having played the vote for us to stop Sinn Fein card for years it is now confirmed that the DUP will happily nominate a deputy to a Sinn Fein First Minister. Such cynical behaviour will not wash well with ordinary unionist voters. TUV remains of the view that no unionist should nominate a deputy to a Republican First Minister.”