Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“As the present Stormont arrangements implode, the reality needs to be faced that this is a catastrophic failure of the unworkable system of government at Stormont.
“I have long warned that mandatory coalition by its very nature was bound to fail, sooner or later.
“Thus, there is no point in aspiring – as some of Mike Nesbitt’s comments suggest – to simply re-establishing Belfast Agreement devolution after some cosmetic changes. Root and branch change is essential if we are to obtain a durable and workable system of government and the least that such requires is the jettisoning of mandatory coalition and its replacement with the normality of voluntary coalition and a fully functioning opposition.
“The axe needs to be laid to the root of the problem – the unworkability and inevitable failure of mandatory coalition.
“Leaving the spectacularly failed structures in place and simply having another election to the same failed structures will fix nothing. It is time to face up to the reality – unpalatable for some – that fundamental infrastructural change must be made if a Stormont which can last and deliver is to be obtained.”