UU Calls For Stormont Opposition Slammed

The Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott has called for an end to the mandatory coalition government at Stormont.

He slammed the NI Executive, saying its system of government needs an overhaul.

In a speech on Wednesday the UUP boss also called for an end to mandatory coalition and for 70 assembly members, instead of 108 and set out his 'vision' for a system of devolved government with an official opposition - but denied his party was preparing to go 'into opposition', after the Assembly election in May.

He wants the parties at Stormont to agree a programme for government before appointing Ministers, although he recognises others will say there is no mechanism in legislation to allow that to happen.

Mr Elliot said that the number of constituencies, MLAs and Executive Departments could then all be cut.

Sinn Fein Assembly member and NI Executive Minister, Conor Murphy has challenged both the UUP to show some 'political maturity' and get down to the business of delivering for ordinary people through the political institutions.

"The fact of the matter is the UUP have in many ways been little more than 'semi detached' members of the Executive throughout this term as they both struggled to come to terms with the new political landscape.

"They want the Ministerial jobs but are unwilling to do any heavy lifting at the Executive table. They adopt one position in the Executive and the opposite in the Assembly," he said, also using the opportunity to attack the nationalist SDLP.

"SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie made it clear that she saw the future of the SDLP in an alliance with Ulster Unionism rather than with other nationalist or republican parties on the island. The joint approach adopted by both parties to their Ministerial roles indicates that this project is ongoing," he claimed.

"From our perspective we will continue to stand by the Good Friday Agreement political institutions. We will not allow a dilution of the checks and balances contained within it and we will not run away from the job of delivering for people through the Executive," he insisted.

Also on the offensive today was the DUP East Antrim MLA, Alastair Ross, who said: "I welcome Tom Elliott's 'abandonment of the Belfast Agreement-style' system that his party put in place in 1998.

"The reform of the institutions has been a long-standing DUP policy. We welcome the UUP's conversion and their decision to adopt our policy even though it's thirteen years late," he said.

"We need to reform and move to a more normalised structure. It was the DUP who secured a review of structures by 2015: this arose from St Andrew's," the MLA continued, and said the UUP should devote its time to correcting the mistakes they made.

"It is further proof of a party stuck in the past and not equipped to deal with the challenges of today and tomorrow," said the MLA.

(BMcC/GK)