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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| UUP-PUP link 'against the rules' | UUP-PUP link 'against the rules' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Assembly speaker Eileen Bell has ruled the assembly link between the UUP and the PUP breaks the assembly's rules. | |
| She said the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group did not have the characteristics of a party as laid down in the legislation governing parties. | She said the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group did not have the characteristics of a party as laid down in the legislation governing parties. |
| However, the Ulster Unionist leader, Sir Reg Empey, criticised the speaker's ruling. | |
| He said that he would continue to work with loyalists as they move toward peaceful politics. | |
| "I have no intention of giving up my work and that of my party in trying to bring about the transformation to exclusively peaceful means in these areas that I believe is essential for stability and I will continue with that and I will redouble my efforts," he said. | |
| Mr Ervine said the ruling "flew in the face of logic". | Mr Ervine said the ruling "flew in the face of logic". |
| "You can tell me that I have to have forced coalition, but that within this building (Stormont) - which is supposed to be the epitome of democracy for Northern Ireland - we can't have voluntary coalition," he said. | "You can tell me that I have to have forced coalition, but that within this building (Stormont) - which is supposed to be the epitome of democracy for Northern Ireland - we can't have voluntary coalition," he said. |
| Mrs Bell told assembly members that she had sought legal advice ahead of her decision. | |
| She said the UUPAG, which was formed as a result of the alliance, did not have a headquarters, at least one party leader and a scheme for financial support. | |
| The Ulster Unionists had came under widespread pressure after allowing PUP leader David Ervine to join their assembly group earlier this year. | The Ulster Unionists had came under widespread pressure after allowing PUP leader David Ervine to join their assembly group earlier this year. |
| 'Negatives' | 'Negatives' |
| The PUP is aligned with the loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force. | The PUP is aligned with the loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force. |
| At the weekend, an Ulster Unionist assembly member said he now believed the party's assembly alliance with the PUP was "untenable". | At the weekend, an Ulster Unionist assembly member said he now believed the party's assembly alliance with the PUP was "untenable". |
| Assembly member Esmond Birnie said the section of the latest IMC report dealing with UVF activity was "grim". | Assembly member Esmond Birnie said the section of the latest IMC report dealing with UVF activity was "grim". |
| He said it contained so many negatives that the link could not be maintained. | He said it contained so many negatives that the link could not be maintained. |
| I think this is a nightmare of a ruling for the Ulster Unionist Party, when Reg thinks things couldn't possibly get worse they do Peter Robinson | I think this is a nightmare of a ruling for the Ulster Unionist Party, when Reg thinks things couldn't possibly get worse they do Peter Robinson |
| "I am someone who has said previously that the UUP pact with the PUP would always have to be conditional and subject to rigorous evaluation in the light of events. | "I am someone who has said previously that the UUP pact with the PUP would always have to be conditional and subject to rigorous evaluation in the light of events. |
| "The litany of events over the last four months has been deeply disturbing," Mr Birnie said. | "The litany of events over the last four months has been deeply disturbing," Mr Birnie said. |
| "As it stands at the moment I believe that this report renders the UUP's pact with the PUP untenable." | "As it stands at the moment I believe that this report renders the UUP's pact with the PUP untenable." |
| The party's only MP, Lady Hermon, had previously called for the link to be severed. | The party's only MP, Lady Hermon, had previously called for the link to be severed. |
| In June, the former Young Unionist chairman Peter Bowles left the UUP in protest at the link. | In June, the former Young Unionist chairman Peter Bowles left the UUP in protest at the link. |
| The Ulster Unionist leadership has said the assembly alliance with the PUP does not represent an arrangement with the UVF. | The Ulster Unionist leadership has said the assembly alliance with the PUP does not represent an arrangement with the UVF. |
| The move was aimed at giving them an extra ministerial seat at Sinn Fein's expense if a power-sharing executive is formed. | The move was aimed at giving them an extra ministerial seat at Sinn Fein's expense if a power-sharing executive is formed. |
| Party leader Sir Reg Empey has said the long-term goal of the link was to end loyalist paramilitarism. | Party leader Sir Reg Empey has said the long-term goal of the link was to end loyalist paramilitarism. |
| The deputy leader of the DUP, Peter Robinson, said that the ruling meant that the UUP had been split by the issue, but would gain no advantage in assembly seats. | The deputy leader of the DUP, Peter Robinson, said that the ruling meant that the UUP had been split by the issue, but would gain no advantage in assembly seats. |
| "I think this is a nightmare of a ruling for the Ulster Unionist Party, when Reg thinks things couldn't possibly get worse they do," he said. | "I think this is a nightmare of a ruling for the Ulster Unionist Party, when Reg thinks things couldn't possibly get worse they do," he said. |