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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Allister quits power-sharing DUP | Allister quits power-sharing DUP |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The DUP MEP Jim Allister has resigned from the party in protest over its decision to enter power-sharing with Sinn Fein. | The DUP MEP Jim Allister has resigned from the party in protest over its decision to enter power-sharing with Sinn Fein. |
| He said he was leaving the party with immense sadness but that he felt Sinn Fein was "not fit for government". | He said he was leaving the party with immense sadness but that he felt Sinn Fein was "not fit for government". |
| It comes after a ground-breaking meeting between Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams at Stormont when they agreed to share power on 8 May. | It comes after a ground-breaking meeting between Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams at Stormont when they agreed to share power on 8 May. |
| Mr Allister said he would not be giving up his seat as an MEP. | Mr Allister said he would not be giving up his seat as an MEP. |
| He said the DUP had not delivered on its election manifesto and accused Sinn Fein of "weasel words". | He said the DUP had not delivered on its election manifesto and accused Sinn Fein of "weasel words". |
| Mr Allister, who previously left the party after a disagreement in the 1980s, was opposed to the DUP executive resolution committing to power-sharing. | Mr Allister, who previously left the party after a disagreement in the 1980s, was opposed to the DUP executive resolution committing to power-sharing. |
| He announced his decision at a news conference in east Belfast. | He announced his decision at a news conference in east Belfast. |
| It seems to me that, sadly, the lure of office has clouded the party's judgment Jim Allister | It seems to me that, sadly, the lure of office has clouded the party's judgment Jim Allister |
| He said: "To continue as the DUP's MEP, it would be my obligation to accept the party executive policy decision to usher Sinn Fein into government in a few short weeks. | He said: "To continue as the DUP's MEP, it would be my obligation to accept the party executive policy decision to usher Sinn Fein into government in a few short weeks. |
| "This, in conscience, I cannot do. Thus, I must resign from the DUP. | "This, in conscience, I cannot do. Thus, I must resign from the DUP. |
| "Sinn Fein, in my view, is not fit for government. Nor can it be in a few weeks." | "Sinn Fein, in my view, is not fit for government. Nor can it be in a few weeks." |
| He added: "I have fought a protracted battle within the party over recent months against a premature DUP/Sinn Fein government. | He added: "I have fought a protracted battle within the party over recent months against a premature DUP/Sinn Fein government. |
| "I now have to accept that this battle is lost." | "I now have to accept that this battle is lost." |
| The MEP said if Sinn Fein believed the IRA was truly and irreversibly committed to exclusively peaceful means, there was no need for an IRA army council. | The MEP said if Sinn Fein believed the IRA was truly and irreversibly committed to exclusively peaceful means, there was no need for an IRA army council. |
| "I just cannot comprehend how the DUP can contemplate government, particularly where it will be joined at the hip in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, with an organisation which clings to an illegal army council of an illegal army," he said. | "I just cannot comprehend how the DUP can contemplate government, particularly where it will be joined at the hip in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, with an organisation which clings to an illegal army council of an illegal army," he said. |
| "It seems to me that, sadly, the lure of office has clouded the party's judgment." | "It seems to me that, sadly, the lure of office has clouded the party's judgment." |
| Meanwhile, Ballymena DUP councillor Sam Gaston has stepped down from the party as a result of Monday's developments. | Meanwhile, Ballymena DUP councillor Sam Gaston has stepped down from the party as a result of Monday's developments. |
| Mr Gaston said six weeks was not enough for republicans to prove themselves. | Mr Gaston said six weeks was not enough for republicans to prove themselves. |
| "I think they have gone into government too quickly," Mr Gaston said. | "I think they have gone into government too quickly," Mr Gaston said. |
| "I think those people who have suffered deserve that we don't have unrepentant terrorists in government." | "I think those people who have suffered deserve that we don't have unrepentant terrorists in government." |
| European Parliament | European Parliament |
| Mr Allister was elected to the European Parliament in 2004, ending a 17-year absence from frontline politics. | Mr Allister was elected to the European Parliament in 2004, ending a 17-year absence from frontline politics. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "On Saturday, he was one of the members of the 120-strong DUP executive who voted against the resolution committing the party to sharing power in May. | BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "On Saturday, he was one of the members of the 120-strong DUP executive who voted against the resolution committing the party to sharing power in May. |
| "He drove away from Castlereagh council before Ian Paisley emerged, flanked by the majority of his colleagues." | "He drove away from Castlereagh council before Ian Paisley emerged, flanked by the majority of his colleagues." |
| It is not the first time he has parted company with Ian Paisley | |
| It is not be the first time he has parted company with Ian Paisley. | It is not be the first time he has parted company with Ian Paisley. |
| In the 1980s, he left active politics after disagreeing with his leader's tactics after the Anglo-Irish Agreement. | In the 1980s, he left active politics after disagreeing with his leader's tactics after the Anglo-Irish Agreement. |
| His return to the DUP fold to stand as an MEP surprised those who believed he had already given up politics to concentrate on his legal career. | His return to the DUP fold to stand as an MEP surprised those who believed he had already given up politics to concentrate on his legal career. |
| Last October, Mr Allister said the St Andrews Agreement had definite gains but also fundamental negatives. | Last October, Mr Allister said the St Andrews Agreement had definite gains but also fundamental negatives. |
| He said disadvantages included the length of the testing period for Sinn Fein and enforced mandatory coalition. | He said disadvantages included the length of the testing period for Sinn Fein and enforced mandatory coalition. |
| He also said there was no mechanism to exclude Sinn Fein if it "defaulted", other than to punish all parties. | He also said there was no mechanism to exclude Sinn Fein if it "defaulted", other than to punish all parties. |
| Mr Allister said it would be "intolerable for any unionist" if the IRA army council was still in existence when the parties are due to share power. He said this would be a deal-breaker for him. | Mr Allister said it would be "intolerable for any unionist" if the IRA army council was still in existence when the parties are due to share power. He said this would be a deal-breaker for him. |