Foster’s safe as DUP leader in spite of revolt, says MLA Wells
DUP veteran Jim Wells has said that Arlene Foster is safe as party leader and there will be no “attempted coup” to remove her.
The South Down MLA, who lost the party whip two years ago, said that Mrs Foster had “no choice” but to turn a blind eye to the backbench rebellion against her in Stormont this week.
It would be impossible to discipline the 11 MLAS who abstained on the Executive Committee (Functions) Bill, he said.
“The whole thing was handled terribly by Arlene,” he said.
“She is very determined and focussed. Most of the time that’s a huge attribute, but on this occasion it was a negative,” he said.
“To expect MLAS to march like lobby fodder to vote for something without proper discussion was just going too far. Eleven of 28 DUP MLAS abstained and two didn’t vote. That’s too big a group to discipline.”
Mrs Foster yesterday admitted that MLAS had concerns about the legislation but she denied that Tuesday’s vote represented a challenge to her leadership.
She told BBC Radio Ulster: “I will speak to each of my colleagues individually about those concerns, but I think it is right that we put the bill forward to plug that gap which could have caused grave difficulties.”
Asked if she felt her leadership was under threat, Mrs Foster replied: “No, not at all. I don’t see it as a threat to my leadership when people express opinions, I welcome that actually. And colleagues abstained, they did not vote against the bill.
“Nobody has expressed that to me, or indeed to any of my senior colleagues. I talk to my senior colleagues every single day of the week so no I don’t think that and I think people should not try and conflate this into a leadership challenge.
“I know maybe it’s that time of the year to do this sort of thing, but certainly there is no threat.”
Mrs Foster said her role as First Minister gave her access to information that wasn’t available to everyone and it was necessary for the legislation to be accelerated through the Assembly.
DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots gave Mrs Foster his full support.
He denied the vote was a challenge to her leadership. He said the party was “fully behind” her and he had no issue with backing the bill. He acknowledged the concerns of those DUP MLAS who defied the party whip but he said it was an internal matter.
“They expressed those concerns in the way they did,” he said. “But that’s a matter that has happened, and we will pick up and move on very quickly from that.
“Mrs Foster has done some tremendous work on Covid-19, and has given really good leadership in the country. I have no doubt the party will continue to support her.”
UUP leader Steve Aiken said: “The Executive Functions Bill passed this week is quite frankly, bad legislation — it creates the conditions for ministers to conduct solo runs and, for something purportedly set up to deal with planning issues, it has further weakened the democratic process within Northern Ireland.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Foster is expected to appear alongside Michelle O’neill in public following a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Dublin today.
The two have not appeared together since IRA veteran Bobby Storey’s funeral, which is still under police investigation over potential breaches of social distancing rules by mourners including Ms O’neill.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will gather at Dublin Castle to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Mrs Foster said: “I have always made it clear that we need to have the Executive working and need to continue to deal with Covid. We need to continue to focus on recovery, dealing with EU exit meetings. I have never said that we have not continued to work as an executive across the five parties together.”
Mrs Foster has said that her powersharing partner’s apology after attending the republican funeral “falls short”.