UUP to present NIO Minister with timetable for “Fair & Responsible Way Forward”
setting out what it must do to ensure democratic principles laid down by the international community are maintained – and so steer away from implied support for the republican agenda over the restoration of devolution.
The South Down MLA’s ‘Work Plan for Government’ will parallel the work plan that the two Governments announced last week for Northern Ireland’s political parties.
In a statement, the South Down MLA said: “It was clear to anyone who saw the Prime Ministers’ press conference last week that they seem to believe it is unionism which is required to act – otherwise the opportunity for devolution is lost for a generation.
“This position masks undiluted support by both Prime Ministers for the Republican agenda and ignores the mandates of Unionists – which is completely anathema to a modern, pluralist democratic society.”
He added: “Our challenge to the UK Government is simple. You have set the politicians of Northern Ireland a ‘Work Plan’ over the coming months; when are you as a Government going to carry out your own ‘Work Plan’ to ensure that we have the same democratic values that all others in Europe enjoy?
“For Government not to accept the benchmark of international standards for the way forward will be to deny us hopes of political stability in the long term.”
Mr Nesbitt concluded: “The Government has a choice: it can show, as it presently does, a willingness to accommodate the demands of Sinn Fein; or it can follow democratic principles laid down by the international community, and accepted elsewhere.
“The meeting with David Hanson is simply trying to ensure that the Government follows the norms for governance accepted elsewhere and not the outdated narrow-minded policies of Sinn Fein.
“The people in Northern Ireland seek no more than democratic values and fairness that everyone else in Europe has as of right.”