Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SAMMY SLAMS PETER ON UNITED IRELAND
‘Angry’ Agnew to step down as Green leader Comments ‘dangerous & damaging’
THE leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland is to quit, partly blaming the power-sharing impasse at Stormont for sapping his drive for the job.
Steven Agnew said he was “frustrated, despondent and angry” he had been unable to perform his role as a legislator for 18 months, accusing Sinn Fein and the DUP of “betraying” the needs of local people.
Mr Agnew, who will remain as an Assembly member for North Down, added he had considered leaving politics completely but decided against it, believing he still has a lot to contribute.
The 38-year-old dad of two said a desire to spend more time with his son, nine, and six-year-old daughter was another major factor.
He also suggested that after almost eight years in post, during which time he led the Green Party into eight elections, it was time for someone with “fresh energy and vision” to take the party into next year’s local council poll.
Mr Agnew added: “My skills and strengths are as a parliamentarian and obviously in the context of no sitting Assembly I feel I am now the wrong person in this role.
“I am angry we have two parties that are putting their needs as parties ahead of the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.
“I don’t think anyone could say this period of suspension, or call it what you will, is good for Northern Ireland.”
Mr Agnew will remain as leader until his successor is selected in the
autumn.
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SAMMY Wilson has branded Peter Robinson’s comments on a united Ireland “dangerous and damaging to unionist morale”.
The MP was responding to comments made by his former DUP leader during a speech in Co Donegal.
Mr Robinson, who was succeeded by Arlene Foster in 2015, said the country should prepare for the possibility of a united Ireland.
He added: “I don’t expect my own house to burn down but I still insure it because it could happen.”
However, Mr Wilson responded: “Preparing for a possible united Ireland is not an insurance policy against something unpleasant happening, it is an invitation to republican arsonists to come in and burn our house down.
“Instead of an insurance policy what is needed is to send out a message we intend to protect our house and engage so many other people in that endeavour that it’s not even worth trying to attack it.” Mr Wilson said a united Ireland was not “inevitable”. He added: “The argument that we should prepare for a united Ireland is damaging to unionist morale.
“It gives credibility to the republican propaganda that a united Ireland is inevitable.
“History shows there is no such inevitability and the way of ensuring we stay part of the UK is not to prepare for departure but to sell the benefits of not going down that road in the first place.
“I don’t prepare to go to the moon in Richard Branson’s space shuttle because I have no intention of ending up there.
“I know Peter Robinson is a committed unionist and was one of its best advocates.
“In his role as a visiting professor I have no doubt he is encouraged to provoke debate, but he is also a
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seasoned politician. He must know in the world of raw politics, where two implacably opposed sides are vying for advantage and propaganda victories, the suggestions he has made are dangerous and demoralising.” Meanwhile, four DUP politicians are being investigated by the Electoral Commission over a trip to Israel.
BBC News reported yesterday six Democratic Unionist MPS received donations from NI Friends of Israel to help pay for their visit in May costing £2,700 a head. This was properly recorded.
However, four MLAS who also went on the visit and were paid the same amount per head informed the Assembly but failed to tell the Electoral Commission within the 30-day limit.
The news comes after their party colleague Ian Paisley was given a record 30-day suspension from Parliament over a trip to Sri Lanka that is estimated to have cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Under new Electoral Commission rules for Northern Ireland all donations to parties and politicians must now be published.
This means sums of more than £1,500 must be reported to the Electoral Commission within 30 days.
It is understood the DUP have taken steps to fix the “administrative oversight” by Gary Middleton, William Humphrey, Michelle Mcilveen and Jonathan Buckley.
A party spokesman said: “The trip was declared on the Assembly register of interests. Thought should be given to updating the Assembly procedures so they are aligned with the processes in Westminster.”
The DUP said the visit was “aimed at developing economic links in such sectors as cyber security”.