Government refuses to share blame for collapse of Stormont executive

While our new prime minster’s more business-like style is a welcome improvement on his two predecessors it remains disappointing that many in his party still seem unwilling to accept any responsibility for the collapsed Stormont executive.

There is a continued narrative across the national media that the DUP are boycotting the executive. In fact, it is the two governments who have abolished the basis upon which the executive existed, with the DUP having kept the executive going for a considerable period of time with no reciprocation. Opponents refer to this as if unionists are to blame for Brexit and must take the consequences but unionists didn’t vote for Brexit, the United Kingdom voted for Brexit, amongst which some Ulster unionists voted for and some voted against. The current dispute stems from a refusal to accept the outcome of the Brexit referendum on the basis that it is inconvenient for some in NI.

It seems clear that nationalist parties would not agree to operate the current executive if the trade border was implemented where the real border actually exists, and yet all the pressure is being piled on to unionist representatives for simply expecting that their place within the United Kingdom be respected until such times as a border poll decides differently.

Perhaps it is Conservative ministers who should get a pay cut until they take over fully the responsibilities of government in the absence of an executive and until they are willing to have a sincere dialogue about the actions of their government.

Unionists are asking for nothing more than Boris Johnson promised before the protocol was agreed - that no British prime minister could agree an internal border within the UK.

As difficult as circumstances are, I believe unionists should stand firm on the refusal to restore powersharing and call out continuously the two governments for their role in abolishing the GFA.

R G McDowell,

Belfast, BT5