uuptoday.org

Speaking at the Derrygonnelly/Garrison UUP AGM yesterday evening, Ulster Unionist Assembly Group political advisor, Mark Neale, has described the DUP’s consultation leaflet as the “biggest con job since the Hitler Diaries”.

Mr Neale, a former Deputy Mayor of Craigavon, said: “This so-called consultation document is a mix of political spin, half-truth, self-praise and selective omission.

“The claim that the DUP have vetoes over all decisions could equally be written as Sinn Fein having vetoes over all decisions.

“The claim that the DUP have succeeded in ending 50/50 recruitment to the PSNI once 30% Catholic proportionality is reached is just a pure lift from the Patten Report. And, notably, this is the first time any unionist has accepted the discriminatory 50/50 policy rather than oppose it.

“Yet what is most concerning is what’s missing from the DUP document – where is the detail on the Irish Language Act; where is the detail on the All Ireland Civic Forum; where is the detail on proposals to change entrance requirements to the Civil Service?”

He added: “Clearly the DUP have decided that the St Andrews Agreement – or Belfast Agreement Mk II – is the way forward. But rather than engaging in constructive discourse, the DUP have decided to hide their blushes behind this rather flimsy and scurrilous document.

“Devolution is still the best way forward for Northern Ireland, especially when the real issues affecting people such as rates, health care and education are considered.

“But the underlying issue with this consultation leaflet is that, by attempting to con support out of people, the DUP show that they are more interested in manipulating Unionist opinion than in being honest with the Unionist people.”