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PRESS RELEASE : Conservatives must do patriotic duty and back election [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Liberal Democrats on 20 October 2022.

Boris Johnson failed our country and Liz Truss trashed our economy. The Conservatives have proven time and time again they are not fit to lead our great country.

We do not need another Conservative Prime Minister lurching from crisis to crisis, we need a general election, we need the Conservatives out of power and we need real change.

It is time for Conservative MPs to do their patriotic duty, put the country first and give the people a say.

Boris Johnson

The fact that Conservative MPs are even considering putting Boris Johnson back in Number 10 shows how out of touch they really are. They think there’s one rule for them and another for everyone else.

Boris Johnson was forced to resign in disgrace after countless lies, scandals and failures. He shattered public trust in the government and plunged the UK into a political crisis. He must never be allowed near Downing Street again.

The future of our country should be in the hands of voters, not the Conservative MPs who have caused all this chaos.

Deny Truss the £115k a year taxpayer dividend

Liz Truss will forever be known as the fifty-day Prime Minister. There is no way that she should be permitted to access the same £115k a year for life fund as her recent predecessors – all of whom served for well over two years.

To make matters worse, Truss’s legacy is an economic disaster – for which the Conservatives are making taxpayers foot the bill. For Truss to walk off into the sunset with a potential six figure dividend, while leaving the British public to suffer, would be unconscionable.

This huge potential payout will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of the millions of people struggling with spiralling bills and eye-watering mortgage rate rises thanks to the Conservatives’ economic mismanagement.

30/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Mebyon Kernow comment on recent chaos in Westminster [October 2022]

The press release issued by Mebyon Kernow on 28 October 2022.

Article from MK leader Cllr Dick Cole, which was first published in this week’s Cornish Guardian.

Speaking at a meeting of Mebyon Kernow’s National Executive in July, Deputy Leader Cllr Loveday Jenkin described recent political “goings-on” as “beyond satire.” She was commenting on the turmoil around the end of Boris Johnson’s premiership, following the resignations of over 60 ministers, parliamentary private secretaries and trade envoys. She was also rightly critical of a Conservative Party at war with itself in a truly dysfunctional Westminster political system.

It is difficult to comprehend how the chaos of the last few days has been even more preposterous and, unbelievably, even further past parody!

Obviously, the ill-conceived gamble that was the mini-budget back-fired and did massive and ongoing damage to the UK economy, along with the prospects of millions of households. But then, we had the new Prime Minister sacking the new Chancellor for following her instructions. A few days later, there was the bust-up and sacking of the new Home Secretary, followed by a “confidence vote” in the House of Commons that led to the unedifying spectacle of Tory MPs jostling and rowing in the division lobbies.

It was so bad that the resignation of Liz Truss, after only 45 days in post, did not come as a surprise.

Even the truncated leadership contest to elect Rishi Sunak as the third Prime Minister of 2022 descended into farce, when Boris Johnson jetted home from his Caribbean holiday to launch, and then back out of, a campaign to reclaim the office of PM, from which he had just been ejected by colleagues because of Partygate and related scandals.

It was absurd to see some of the MPs who quit their government roles, only three months ago to force Johnson out, were now clamouring to bring him back. One such MP had resigned because of how the “cumulative effect” of Johnson’s “errors of judgement and domestic actions” had “squandered the goodwill” of the Conservative Party.

Cue yet more “blue-on-blue” bickering and infighting, with a number of MPs stating that they would not continue to serve in the Conservative cause if Johnson returned as PM. Some felt he would “be gone by Christmas” if reinstalled, because of the pending “Privileges Committee” which is tasked to investigate claims that he mislead Parliament, while one prominent MP described their parliamentary party as “completely riven” and “ungovernable.”

As someone who is not a Conservative, it would be easy to fall into the trap of enjoying the shambolic disarray of the Tories, but we must never forget that their failings are having a devastating impact on the lives of the people of the United Kingdom.

30/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : The days of men and women being sent to fill jail cells or early graves in this country should be over – Doug Beattie [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 28 October 2022.

Responding to a letter from the Loyalist Communities Council, UUP Leader Doug Beattie MC MLA said:

“I read the words in the letter with a sense that a section of unionism is condemned to keep repeating the mistakes of the past. Quite simply it is the words of unionism in retreat, not the confident presentation of our argument which will win out on the Protocol. It is the school of thought which sees unionism return to the table in a weaker position each time.

“The Ulster Unionist Party has been unequivocal in our opposition to the Protocol since it first emerged in Boris Johnson’s proposals to the EU on 2 October 2019. While the DUP were forced to play catch up after realising the folly of these proposals having initially welcomed them as a “serious and sensible way forward”, the Ulster Unionist Party was sounding the alarm that they amounted to “playing Russian roulette with the future of the United Kingdom”. Now those who created this mess by pursuing Brexit without a plan are trying to make others the fall guys for their mistakes.

“We will make no apology for spending the last three years making our case wherever it needed to be heard. We will continue to engage with the United Kingdom Government, the Irish Government, the European Union and the US State Department to make sure they are in no doubt about why the Northern Ireland Protocol is unacceptable to unionists and is a bad deal for Northern Ireland. The evidence of this being the right approach is there for all to see in proposals made by us being adopted by the UK Government in their Command Paper, in the European Union coming back to the negotiating table and in the change in position from Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance who once called for “rigorous implementation” of the Protocol now forced to acknowledge its faults.

“The Ulster Unionist Party totally rejects any notion of moving back to pre-ceasefire days and will resist anyone who seeks to take us back there. The days of men and women being sent to fill jail cells or early graves in this country should be over. Peace and political process are the only way to advance our argument, be in no doubt of that.

“Finally, if the LCC would like to acknowledge who or what is to blame for Sinn Fein holding the post of First Minister then they should look no further than the DUP’s negotiating prowess at St Andrew’s. That unionism should be the majority designation in the Assembly, but not fill the office of First Minister is a failure they have to explain.”

30/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Ulster Unionists pay tribute to local Veterans community [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionist Party on 28 October 2022.

The Chair of the Ulster Unionist Party, Councillor Jill Macauley, has paid tribute to the local Veterans community following a very successful event organised by Veterans Awards NI.

Jill Macauley said:

“This week I was honoured to attend the inaugural awards presentation of the Veterans Awards NI.

“The event celebrated and recognised the achievements of our service community and was attended by the newly appointed Minister for Veterans Affairs, the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP and the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, Danny Kinahan.

“I would like to congratulate all those who were nominated for Awards, particularly Party colleagues Londonderry Councillor Ryan McCready who won the Reservist of the Year award, Banbridge Councillor Glenn Barr who won a silver award in the same category, and our Crotlieve representative Ricky McGaffin who won Volunteer of the Year.

“Many other Ulster Unionist friends and colleagues from across the Province were also in attendance including East Belfast MLA Andy Allen.

“Everyone who attended was both impressed and humbled at the work being done to celebrate and support our Veterans and the breadth of work being undertaken across Northern Ireland by those who have served in our armed forces.”

30/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Peter Robinson in no position to lecture given the strategic errors made under his leadership – Steve Aiken [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 27 October 2022.

Responding to comments made by former DUP leader, Peter Robinson, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, said:

“I noted Peter Robinson`s comments about the Ulster Unionist Party.

“It`s time to set the record straight about how unionism got into the position it is in today. Unlike the DUP, the Ulster Unionist Party has always opposed the Protocol. When Boris Johnson first published his proposals for an amended protocol on 2 October 2019 which stated that ‘the proposal set out in this note would see regulatory checks applying between Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ and ‘Agri foods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain would do so via a Border Inspection Post or Designated Point of entry as required by EU law’, the then DUP leader Arlene Foster welcomed them as ‘a serious and sensible way forward.’

In contrast, on the 2 October 2019, the then UUP leader, Robin Swann MLA, stated that ‘this new protocol should be deeply concerning for all those who have the long term economic and constitutional welfare of Northern Ireland and its people at heart.’

“I warned the DUP on 3 October 2019 that they were ‘playing Russian roulette with the future of the United Kingdom.’ Yet the DUP ploughed on regardless.

“In an interview with BBC`s Spotlight programme on 2 March 2020, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP said, ‘in the end customs checks doesn’t mean that you change the constitutional status of a part of the United Kingdom, that’s not going to happen.’

“Then in an interview with BBC Good Morning Ulster on 27 May 2020, when Edwin Poots was asked by Chris Buckler, ‘Do you think that has the potential of damaging trade or do you think that there are opportunities with what is to come? With this ability to trade with the EU as well?’, Edwin Poots` response was to say, ‘we need to maximise the advantages and to minimize the disadvantages.’

“The DUP`s fingerprints were all over the Protocol whilst our record in opposition to it has been consistent since the day it was published. I welcome the fact that they had a road to Damascus conversion and have come over to our way of thinking. The Ulster Unionist Party said the Protocol was a bad deal from the very start and we brought forward alternatives and solutions to the break the impasse, some of which were included in the UK Government`s Command Paper from July 2021 and form the basis of the potential landing zone for negotiations.

“Whilst we have common ground with the DUP`s latest position on the Protocol, in opposition to it, where we differ is tactics. We have brought forward alternatives, we have engaged with the UK Government, EU, Irish Government and US State Department, and believe that negotiations are the best way forward. The DUP have brought down Stormont. I don`t think that it is in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland in the face of a cost-of-living crisis nor for the long-term benefit of Unionism.

“It is ironic that Peter Robinson is now stepping forward to give advice to the DUP. It was under his leadership that the Belfast Agreement was changed at St Andrews, amending the way in which the First and deputy First Ministers are elected in the Assembly. If those changes hadn`t been made, a DUP MLA would today be First Minister designate, not Michelle O`Neill. And that is down to the DUP. Peter Robinson is in no position to lecture the Ulster Unionist Party given the huge strategic errors made whilst he was leader of the DUP which have harmed unionism in the long run.”

30/10/2022
Doug Beattie – 2022 Statement Rejecting Joint Authority in Northern Ireland

The statement made by Doug Beattie, the Leader of the Ulster Unionists, on 26 October 2022.

The Ulster Unionist Party has already very firmly rejected the notion of Joint Authority between London and Dublin in Northern Ireland.

As Unionists we are clear that only the United Kingdom has the right to exercise sovereignty over Northern Ireland.

We would advise anyone seeking the imposition of Joint Authority to read the Belfast Agreement, especially the section ‘Constitutional Issues’ where it states that ‘it would be wrong to make any change in the status of Northern Ireland save with the consent of a majority of its people.’

Joint Authority would clearly be a massive change in our constitutional status.

The Belfast Agreement has already been damaged by the NI Protocol and the imposition of a border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Clearly any attempt to impose some form of Joint Authority between London and Dublin on Northern Ireland would run contrary to that, breach the Principle of Consent and deal a fatal blow to the Belfast Agreement.

We need to focus our efforts on getting Stormont back up and running again and working the Belfast Agreement. That is what Northern Ireland needs right now.

30/10/2022
Doug Beattie – 2022 Comments on Joint Authority in Northern Ireland

The comments made by Doug Beattie, the Leader of the Ulster Unionists, on 25 October 2022.

The Ulster Unionist Party wants to see the restoration of devolved government at Stormont.

One of the key reasons this party supported the Belfast Agreement in 1998 was to ensure the replacement of the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement which permitted Dublin to have a consultative role in the affairs of Northern Ireland.

In the section ‘Constitutional Issues’ the Belfast Agreement recognised ‘it would be wrong to make any change in the status of Northern Ireland save with the consent of a majority of its people.’

Clearly any attempt to impose some form of Joint Authority between London and Dublin on Northern Ireland would run contrary to that and be another very serious breach of the Belfast Agreement.

We need to focus our efforts on getting Stormont back up and running again so that locally elected politicians, with local knowledge and an understanding of this place and who are therefore best placed to make decisions affecting the lives of people here, can get on with that job. That is what Northern Ireland needs right now, not any talk of Joint Authority.

30/10/2022
Doug Beattie – 2022 Statement on Rishi Sunak Becoming Prime Minister

The statement made by Doug Beattie, the Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, on 24 October 2022.

I congratulate Rishi Sunak on becoming leader of the Conservative Party and the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is desperate for a strong and stable Government which will focus on doing what`s right for all four corners of our Nation.

Northern Ireland needs better Government and that means the restoration of the devolved institutions. One of the new Prime Minister`s priorities must be resolving the political impasse and dealing with the issues caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. Northern Ireland cannot continue to be used as political football between the United Kingdom and the EU. The Protocol must be replaced with a deal that works for everyone. There should be no checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland that are staying here. Everyone knows what needs to be done and now is the time to be getting on with it.

If there is another Assembly election, the Ulster Unionist Party will be ready to fight it. However an election will do absolutely nothing to deal with the foremost challenges facing Northern Ireland. An election won`t deal with the Protocol and it won`t provide an easier path to the restoration of an Assembly and an Executive. It will only cause the trenches to be dug deeper and make the path to political progress even more difficult. The Prime Minister should use the next few days to reflect and consult on what is the best way forward for Northern Ireland. Too many decisions have been taken in the past which destabilise this part of the United Kingdom rather than helping its people.

28/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : DfI maligns and ignores 100,000 motorcyclists – Ian Paisley [October 2022]

The press release issued by the DUP on 28 October 2022.

North Antrim MP Ian Paisley has accused the Department for Infrastructure of continuing to malign and ignore 100,000 motorcyclists in Northern Ireland. He called on them to use proper data so that motorcycling is not presented as being more dangerous than it is.

His comments follow the recently published the consultation outcome report on the New Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030.

The DUP MP is chair of the APPG on Motorcycling in Parliament and he said, “This latest report suggests that motorcyclists suffered a 36% increase in KSI collisions per 100 million kilometres travelled in 2021. That level of increase not only lacks credibility, but would suggest that motorcycling in Northern Ireland is grossly more hazardous than in Great Britain.

I know that the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) have pointed out flaws in the DfI statistics in the past and how data is collected, using a small questionnaire sample rather than real-world traffic data which is used by the Department for Transport in Great Britain. The Department is maligning motorcycling as being significantly more hazardous than it is.

Not content with maligning motorcycling, it then ignores the 100,000 motorcyclists in Northern Ireland. Whilst painting it as grossly unsafe, the Department and the outgoing Minister refused to introduce any measures to improve safety. The suggestion was made of an Enhanced Rider Scheme as happens in Great Britain. This was rejected yet the draft Road Safety Review lays out plans to introduce training for safer tractor driving, cycling and for newly qualified drivers. Virtually every road using group is provided for with the sole exception of motorcyclists

This report was quietly released in the last few days, presumably in the knowledge that it would receive little scrutiny. It will not be ignored by anyone involved in motorcycling however and it certainly is an issue that I intend to pursue with the Department.”

28/10/2022
Diane Forsythe – 2022 Statement on Desecration of War Memorials

The statement made by Diane Forsythe, the DUP MLA for South Down, on 28 October 2022.

This year we unveiled the VC statue in Kilkeel, such was the fear of attack a local organisation installed CCTV. Only this week, the war memorial and service memorial have been attacked twice. This is vile. For anyone to wreck the wreaths and be urinating on the memorial is grotesquely offensive.

I am calling for political leadership from all parties in South Down for the arrest and prosecution of those causing criminal damage to the war memorial and I also want to see a more proactive policing operation to ensure the people who feel this is acceptable are brought before the courts.

There is no place for such intolerance in Kilkeel.

28/10/2022