Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“Surely, even the slowest of political learners can see that the system of mandatory coalition at Stormont is doomed and unfixable.
“On top of a decade of serial dysfunctionalism we now have the moral depravity of the archetypal apologists and practitioners of terrorism pontificating from ‘The Felon’s Club’ on the standards of probity required in their government! If the DUP had any dignity and self respect left they would bring this shambles to an end before IRA/Sinn Fein does it for them.
“Mandatory coalition has failed beyond repair. It is time to put it out of its misery.
“As I said yesterday, “The fresh start we need is not the dishonest figleaf of 2016, but the sweeping away of the failure and fragments of mandatory coalition. Only a voluntary coalition of the willing stands any chance of bringing stable government. How many times does the present farce have to fail before that reality dawns?
“It is time to drain the swamp.
“There is no point in yet another attempt to glue together this failed system. Instead, bring in Direct Rule ministers to give stability and government, but this time make it accountable by keeping the Assembly as the lawmaking and scrutiny body. When local politicians are mature enough to form a voluntary coalition, then executive powers can return.”