I have made mistakes as DUP chief but I won’t quit on NI: Foster
ARLENE Foster has admitted making mistakes over the course of her DUP leadership.
She said there had been “dark moments” but also many rewarding ones.
Foster made the admission on the BBC’s Radio Ulster Talkback show when asked about the issues which have dogged her tenure, such as the RHI scandal, the failure to re-establish power-sharing, Ian Paisley surviving a petition of recall, Brexit and growing anger among loyalist communities.
Foster, who pointed out she had faced more elections than her predecessor Peter Robinson, said she was committed to restoring devolution, which was the main reason she did not put her name forward for a Westminster seat.
“There is much to do in Northern Ireland. I am not a quitter. I am someone who believes in putting forward policies, proposals and our vision and I want to see that delivered through the Assembly,” she added.
Mrs Foster admitted she had at times been mistaken in things she had said.
“To paraphrase the Queen, it would be better said differently or perhaps not at all. It is something you look back at and say, ‘there have been mistakes made’, but we are all human,” she said.
She was asked if she regretted her infamous “feed a crocodile” remark, which many people highlighted as helping to galvanise support for Sinn Fein in the 2017 Assembly election.
“You may well say that. I could not possibly comment,” she said.
“I think it is important everyone reflects on their use of language.
“I have heard use of language from others during the course of this campaign which quite frankly was not good.
“I think we all could do with looking at our language if we want to build a shared society, as I do.”
On Brexit, when asked if it was an error of judgment to trust Prime Minister Boris Johnson, she accused him of “moving away” from commitments.