DUP accused of ‘sabotage’ by snubbing economic event
Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said it was a ‘disgrace’ that leaders were not attending the National Economic Council in Glasgow.
The DUP has been accused by their partners in government Sinn Féin of “economic sabotage” by blocking attendance at a major event with the Prime Minister in Glasgow.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson announced on Thursday that co-operation had ended between First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin and his party’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
This prevented them from attending the National Economic Council meeting in Glasgow on Friday, at which they had been due to meet Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Speaking at the beginning of the event Mr Burnham said: “It’s a shame that we do not have colleagues from Northern Ireland, but obviously we’re working with them on the same agenda and that agenda being how do we get growth up to where we all want it to be.
“Not just any kind of growth, good growth in every postcode and that means every postcode of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England as well.”
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said the meeting in Glasgow was a very important event.
In Belfast on Friday he told the media: “This was, despite the contrary analysis being given by the DUP, a very important meeting that the First Minister and the deputy First Minister should have been at.
“Every single day you and your colleagues are covering stories about the need for economic investment, about the fact that people are really getting hit hard by the cost of living.
“It is important that the voice of the First Minister and the deputy First Minister is in that room with the British Prime Minister, with the Scottish First Minister, with the Welsh First Minister, to try to deliver for people here.
“It is once again an example of economic sabotage, of self-harm by the DUP, all because they struggle with internal party cohesion and once again that division plays out in front of the public.
“It is an absolute disgrace that meeting is not taking place.”
He added: “We’re dealing with a DUP which is mired in scandal and mired in internal division, and the unfortunate reality is that everybody has to suffer as a result of this drama playing out in front of all of us.”