DUP chief told ‘tread with care’ in Scotland
DUP leader Arlene Foster has been warned to ‘tread with care’ as she prepares to lead an Orange Order march in Scotland.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland yesterday confirmed the Northern Irish politician has accepted an invitation to the parade in Cowdenbeath, Fife, later this month.
She will walk at the front of the march and give the main speech to supporters.
Her appearance comes amid continuing controversy around the Democratic Unionist Party’s deal to work with the Conservatives at Westminster – keeping Theresa May in government.
Concerns have been raised over Mrs Foster’s views on gay rights and abortion.
Yesterday Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie warned that Mrs Foster must ‘tread with care’ when she comes to Scotland later this month.
He said: ‘As a Liberal I, of course, believe she has the right to come to Cowdenbeath.
‘Yet she needs to tread with care as Scottish politics is very different from that in Northern Ireland. Political parties in Scotland attract support from people who have different religious beliefs and that is the way it should be.
‘The visit does remind us that Arlene Foster’s DUP have a big influence on the direction of the Conservative Government, with their socially conservative views on gay rights and abortion that is far from healthy.’
It is understood this will be the first time Mrs Foster has attended an Orange Order event in Scotland. Robert McLean, executive officer at The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, said: ‘Arlene Foster is the guest speaker and will be at the front of the parade.
‘She will be the main speaker on the platform.’
He added that attendance by Northern Ireland politicians at Scottish parades was not unusual and former First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson had done so in the past.
Mrs Foster was Northern Ireland’s First Minister until the collapse of the power-sharing agreement at Stormont last year.
The parade on June 30 is one of the biggest in Scotland and involves lodges from Fife, Edinburgh, the Lothians and elsewhere in the Central Belt.
A DUP spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that DUP leader Arlene Foster has been invited to attend an event by Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland.
‘This event is due to have representatives of the Orange Order from Northern Ireland and Scotland.’
Police Scotland refused to comment on the event and a spokesman insisted he could not release operational details.
‘Will be at front of the parade’