UUP’s Beattie seeks extra sitting of MLAs to discuss ongoing ‘farce’ at Stormont

UUP MLA Doug Beattie has tabled his own recall petition to have the Assembly sit for a second day on Tuesday.

Mr Beattie wants MLAs to meet at Stormont to discuss the effect of 1,000 days without devolution on Northern Ireland.

MLAs are set to return to the chamber for the first time since 2017 on Monday to discuss changes to Northern Ireland’s abortion laws introduced from Westminster.

Anti-abortion campaign group Both Lives Matter said 31 MLAs had signed a petition to force a recall of the Assembly to discuss a motion to put the issue back in the hands of local politicians.

However, a ministerial Executive will only be formed once the DUP and Sinn Fein resolve their long-standing differences and agree to enter into a coalition again.

The UUP’s Steve Aiken said his party would attend. However, Mr Beattie (right) dismissed the move, saying it would have “zero chance” of success. Mr Beattie said if MLAs could attend the chamber on Monday then there was no reason they couldn’t be there on Tuesday.

“The fact is Monday will change nothing unless there is an Executive in place. We have had over 1,000 days of spiralling health waiting lists, crisis in education and buckling public services,” he said.

“If we can be in the chamber to debate abortion reform on Monday, then we can be there on Tuesday too to discuss how the country is falling down around us.

“This farce has gone on for too long and pressure must be applied. There is no talks process. There isn’t even talks about a talks process.

“The DUP and Sinn Fein have been allowed to sit around with their dummy thrown out for too long.”

Alliance leader Naomi Long said that Mr Beattie’s recall petition was another “stunt”.

“We don’t need a pointless talking shop,” she wrote on Twitter. “Get back into talks, get the issues resolved and get an Executive formed so ministers can take decisions and the Assembly committees can function.”

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said he will be attending the chamber, after party leader Colum Eastwood criticised the recall.

Sinn Fein has already said it will play no part in Monday’s Assembly.