Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The Republican movement, now from the halls of government, is continuing the torture of its innocent victims. Not satisfied with making them victims in the first place, they now seek to snatch away their promised pension unless their victim-makers get it too.
“The pension is already legislated for but, foolishly, its administration was handed to the terrorist-inclusive executive at Stormont. Predictably, Sinn Fein is using that leverage to try and rewrite the pension scheme to include their “heroes”.
“This shameful kick in the teeth for innocent victims is only possible because the DUP failed them in the ‘New Decade New Approach’ talks. That was the time to copper fasten the pension, but such was the urge to have power, any power, the innocent victims were again a secondary consideration.
“And now, of course, the just cause of this pension has become, at best, a trading chip in the morass of Stormont, or, until the DUP pays whatever price Sinn Fein is demanding, it is vetoed.
“The only way forward now to thwart the Sinn Vein veto is for Westminster to take control of this pension and administer it across the U.K.
“This is a key battle which Sinn Fein cannot be allowed to win. Innocent victims can take no more humiliation.”