DUP walks into SF trap - Empey
In a statement this evening, UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey said,
“The DUP’s foolishness in annoucing to the world which ministry will be its first choice in an Executive should it be the largest party, when it hasn’t even made up its mind about entering the Executive in the first place, is yet another illustration of the deep confusion within its ranks. Yesterday Ian Paisley gave Sinn Fein the green light to take the Education Ministry when he signalled that the DUP had given up on education. Gerry Adams has now sprung the trap on the DUP, declaring that Sinn Fein will go first for education.
“It is hard to forget the DUP’s cyncial posturing during the last Assembly when they feigned horror at Martin McGuinness being Education Minister. Now, however, the DUP leadership is telling the Northern Ireland electorate that it is a matter of little importance to hand the Department of Education to Sinn Fein.
“The DUP’s flip-flop comes at a time when the future of Northern Ireland’s education system is yet to be decided. This is, put simply, a betrayal of parents and schools across Northern Ireland.
“There is, however, a sure route out of this mess created by the DUP. A vote for Ulster Unionists on 7th March will guarantee that we will take the Education Ministry. We are declaring that Education will be our number one choice for a Ministry. We - unlike others - will put Northern Ireland’s schools first.”