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Senior figures from Northern Ireland\u2019s political parties have clashed over Brexit and representation at Westminster just days before voters are due to go to the polls.<\/p>\nSenior figures from Northern Ireland\u2019s political parties have clashed over Brexit and representation at Westminster just days before voters are due to go to the polls.<\/p>\n
Although billed as a leaders\u2019 debate, DUP Lagan Valley candidate Jeffrey Donaldson appeared on the BBC NI show this evening instead of his party leader Arlene Foster.<\/p>\n
Of the other four main parties in the North, Sinn F\u00e9in was represented by vice president Michelle O\u2019Neill, the SDLP by its leader Colum Eastwood, the UUP by leader Steve Aiken and Alliance Party by leader Naomi Long.<\/p>\n
The live debate, which was chaired by presenter Noel Thompson, started with a question from a member of the audience: \u201cDo you believe Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely?\u201d.<\/p>\n
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood responded saying he believes the first thing to be dealt with is \u201cthe emergency that is Brexit\u201d, and called for a second referendum to \u201cstop this Brexit madness\u201d.<\/p>\n
The DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson said he doesn\u2019t believe there is a threat to Northern Ireland\u2019s position within the UK, and he opposed a second referendum on Brexit.<\/p>\n
He slated \u201cpoor negotiation\u201d on behalf of the UK Government, and restated his party\u2019s opposition to Boris Johnson\u2019s proposed Brexit deal<\/p>\n
\u201cMy message to unionists is to send a strong unionist team back to Westminster, that\u2019s what unionists want,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in’s Northern Ireland leader Michelle O\u2019Neill responded saying Brexit may make people rethink their stance on a united Ireland, if leaving the UK would mean re-entering the EU.<\/p>\n
Alliance leader Naomi Long responded saying Brexit has \u201ccertainly made Northern Ireland less stable\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said it has brought arguments around borders back to the fore, adding: \u201cthe harder the Brexit, the more borders\u2026 the more likely people are to reconsider their position (on the constitutional question).\u201d<\/p>\n
Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said Mr Johnson\u2019s deal makes Northern Ireland \u201ca place apart\u201d, and urged for the proposals to be stopped.<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill came under pressure over Sinn F\u00e9in’s policy of not taking their seats at Westminster.<\/p>\n
She insisted \u201cone or two Irish MPs won\u2019t make a difference\u201d, in response to criticism by Mr Eastwood and Mr Aiken.<\/p>\n
Mr Aiken put to Ms O\u2019Neill that her MPs in the last parliament were often seen sitting in the coffee shops and questioned, \u201cwhy not take your seats on the green benches?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are pretending you can go to Westminster and stop Brexit, that is nonsense,\u201d Ms O\u2019Neill told Mr Eastwood.<\/p>\n
The SDLP leader, who is running in Foyle, restated that if elected he will take his seat in Westminster.<\/p>\n
Ms Long also pressed Ms O\u2019Neill over abstentionism who responded by saying her MPs will never take an oath of allegiance to the UK’s queen.<\/p>\n
The politicians responded next to a question from the audience about whether a direct-rule health minister should be installed to deal with the ongoing crisis in the health service in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Mr Donaldson said \u201chuge decisions need to be taken in NI\u201d, adding he sees the impact on people suffering while waiting for treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need the assembly back and we need it back today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, he went on to say if the talks to revive Stormont, due to start on Monday, do not result in agreement by the January 13 deadline, then direct rule should be considered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have to look at handing it back to Westminster where people like me will be there to argue for Northern Ireland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill said direct rule is \u201cnot an option\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can never go backwards, we can only go forwards,\u201d she said, calling for a \u201cvery substantial\u201d financial injection from Westminster, claiming the health service is \u201con its knees due to Tory austerity\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Aiken said there is now a \u201chealth emergency\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe time has gone for faffing around\u2026 let\u2019s get someone in place to make the political decisions now,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Ms Long pointed out there is also a \u201ccrisis in education\u201d and a \u201ccrisis in infrastructure\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I want to see direct rule? No I don\u2019t, because I think it is a failure of devolution,\u201d she said, however she said if agreement is not reached by the January 13 deadline, the Secretary of State needs to find \u201ca form of government that actually can work\u201d or call another election.<\/p>\n
Mr Eastwood said no to direct rule, stating he wants to see Stormont back.<\/p>\n