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The new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has urged the DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in to keep the \u201cshow on the road\u201d in terms of the power-sharing government in the North.<\/p>\nThe new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has urged the DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in to keep the \u201cshow on the road\u201d in terms of the power-sharing government in the North.<\/p>\n
Days ahead of DUP leader Edwin Poots\u2019 expected unveiling of his new ministerial team, and amid speculation over whether Sinn F\u00e9in will support the nomination of new ministers without a commitment over Irish language legislation, Doug Beattie said the Northern Ireland Executive \u201chas to last\u201d.<\/p>\n
There is also speculation that the next Assembly elections may be called before they are due to take place in May 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt [the Executive] has to last, it has got to last for the people of this part of the United Kingdom, our Executive needs to keep going,\u201d Mr Beattie told RT\u00c9\u2019s The Week In Politics program.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo there\u2019s an onus on the DUP, and there is an onus on Sinn F\u00e9in also to be generous with this because we are in a degree of instability, and they need to carry on and keep the Executive on the tracks until the elections in May next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen in May next year people will be able to vote as to what way they want to go forward from that moment onwards. But the last thing we need is for the Executive to collapse, for there to be even more instability here in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur people have suffered enough, it\u2019s time politicians just held their ground, gave a little bit to each other, were a little bit more gracious and just make sure that we can provide for the people of Northern Ireland, particularly that we are coming off a pandemic which has absolutely decimated our lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in really need to do a bit of mature politics here and just keep this show on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Beattie described a \u201ctumultuous couple of weeks in unionism\u201d but said the UUP had gone about their leadership handover in a \u201cvery different way\u201d to the DUP.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have done everything face to face with our previous leader and then we have gone out to the media\u2026 and we\u2019ve put our message across,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have done a smooth transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately with the DUP it has been a bit more fractious and that\u2019s not good for Northern Ireland\u2026 we need stability here more than anything else.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs for anybody who wants to come to the Ulster Unionist Party\u2026 we are an open party, we are a welcoming party\u2026 but it\u2019s not a home for people who just have a different view, or want to come and settle in here. You have to share our vision for the future, you have to share our values.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019ll not take anyone on board just as a home because they are disgruntled with the DUP.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Beattie said he will speak to everyone, including the Government, the EU and the UK government.<\/p>\n