Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
It is welcome that the Secretary of State now recognises the imperative of an Opposition, but she needs to do something about it. Abdicating responsibility to self-regulation by the Assembly means it will never happen, because of the Sinn Fein veto and the vested interest of all the executive parties.
The 1998 Act, which established the perverted arrangements at Stormont, is Westminster legislation. Thus, it is for the Secretary of State to initiate the change, which she lamentably failed to do in her Miscellaneous Provisions Bill last year.
TUV has long identified the lack of Opposition as a key blight of Stormont. If the Secretary of State really believes in democratising Stormont, then she needs to lead and get on with it.