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09/03/2010
Bush Calls For UUP Policing Support
George W Bush has waded in on the political unrest at the North's Stormont Assembly, urging support for the devolution of policing and justice powers.
The former US president called on Conservative leader David Cameron (pictured) to use his influence within the Ulster Unionist Party to cajole them into backing today's Assembly vote on the Hillsborough Castle Agreement.
Ulster Unionist MLAs have said they will not endorse the accord.
The party entered into an electoral pact with the UK Tories two years ago. They will field joint candidates at the forthcoming General Election.
Mr Cameron, the leader of the Commons Opposition, told Mr Bush he was in no position to instruct the UUP what to do.
The Conservative Party has firmly supported the agreement, which was struck last month following months of inter-party wrangling.
Heated negotiations to secure a deal had threatened to collapse the Belfast institutions.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton contacted UUP leader Sir Reg Empey on Friday to emphasize the importance of a unanimous 'yes' vote today.
Despite the UUP's resistance, the DUP and Sinn Fein are confident they can garnish enough Assembly support to successfully push forward with the transfer of judiciary responsibilities to a locally elected minister by 12 April.
Democratic Unionists have continued to insist they would prefer to have the UUP on board.
Ulster Unionists have said they will not submit to "bullying" or "blackmail".
Deputy party leader Danny Kennedy yesterday accused the Northern Ireland Office of releasing a "dubious" opinion poll ahead of today's vote.
A survey published by the Secretary of State suggested 68% of people in the province want to see a new Justice Ministry installed at Stormont.
Shaun Woodward said it would be "hard to forgive" anyone who voted against the will of the public.
Last night, Sir Reg said his party's hand would not be forced.
"Our history is our strength. And we are prepared to go forward and look to the future. But not under the cosh of all this blackmail and bullying," he said.
Former first minister Ian Paisley accused the UUP of making a "colossal mistake".
(PR/GK)
The former US president called on Conservative leader David Cameron (pictured) to use his influence within the Ulster Unionist Party to cajole them into backing today's Assembly vote on the Hillsborough Castle Agreement.
Ulster Unionist MLAs have said they will not endorse the accord.
The party entered into an electoral pact with the UK Tories two years ago. They will field joint candidates at the forthcoming General Election.
Mr Cameron, the leader of the Commons Opposition, told Mr Bush he was in no position to instruct the UUP what to do.
The Conservative Party has firmly supported the agreement, which was struck last month following months of inter-party wrangling.
Heated negotiations to secure a deal had threatened to collapse the Belfast institutions.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton contacted UUP leader Sir Reg Empey on Friday to emphasize the importance of a unanimous 'yes' vote today.
Despite the UUP's resistance, the DUP and Sinn Fein are confident they can garnish enough Assembly support to successfully push forward with the transfer of judiciary responsibilities to a locally elected minister by 12 April.
Democratic Unionists have continued to insist they would prefer to have the UUP on board.
Ulster Unionists have said they will not submit to "bullying" or "blackmail".
Deputy party leader Danny Kennedy yesterday accused the Northern Ireland Office of releasing a "dubious" opinion poll ahead of today's vote.
A survey published by the Secretary of State suggested 68% of people in the province want to see a new Justice Ministry installed at Stormont.
Shaun Woodward said it would be "hard to forgive" anyone who voted against the will of the public.
Last night, Sir Reg said his party's hand would not be forced.
"Our history is our strength. And we are prepared to go forward and look to the future. But not under the cosh of all this blackmail and bullying," he said.
Former first minister Ian Paisley accused the UUP of making a "colossal mistake".
(PR/GK)
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