Sammy Wilson MP MLA

“Wilson challenges PM not to give in to Sinn Fein blackmail”

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has called on the Prime Minister not to give in to attempts by Sinn Fein to blackmail the government by threatening to bring down the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mr Wilson was speaking during Prime Minister’s question time when he also asked for assurances that the Prime Minister would not, should direct rule be introduced, impose the Sinn Fein agenda that was rejected by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Here is the text of the exchange:

Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP): The Prime Minister will be aware of the Sinn Fein threat to bring down the Northern Ireland Assembly tomorrow. I am sure that the irony of republicans wishing to reinstate rule from London will not be lost on the House, or on the people of Northern Ireland. Will he give an assurance that the Government will not cave in to this blackmail, and that in the event of direct rule having to be reintroduced—something that my party will do its best to avoid—the Sinn Fein agenda, which it has not been able to persuade the Northern Ireland Assembly to adopt, will not be adopted by his Government or the House?

The Prime Minister: The hon. Gentleman can be absolutely sure that we will stick to the policies that we have pursued. I can also tell him that I have had talks with the leaders of all the parties in the Administration in Northern Ireland; I hope that we can move forward tomorrow, and that the new First Minister will be nominated, as will the Deputy First Minister. I believe that that can and will happen. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the retiring First Minister, who is not with us today, for all his efforts on behalf of the peace process and on behalf of reconciliation. He truly has made a historic contribution to the future of Northern Ireland.

ENDS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: (028) 2826 7722