Northern Ireland

NI parties clash over Brexit and Westminster representation during TV debate

Steve Aiken of the UUP, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP, the SDLP's Colum Eastwood and Naomi Long of Alliance taking part in last night's NI Leaders Debate chaired by Noel Thompson. Picture by William Cherry/Presseye
Steve Aiken of the UUP, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP, the SDLP's Colum Eastwood and Naomi Long of Alliance taking part in last night's NI Leaders Debate chaired by Noel Thompson. Picture by William Cher Steve Aiken of the UUP, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP, the SDLP's Colum Eastwood and Naomi Long of Alliance taking part in last night's NI Leaders Debate chaired by Noel Thompson. Picture by William Cherry/Presseye

SENIOR figures from Northern Ireland's political parties have clashed over Brexit and representation at Westminster just days before voters are due to go to the polls.

Although billed as a leaders' debate, DUP Lagan Valley candidate Jeffrey Donaldson appeared on the BBC NI show instead of his party leader Arlene Foster.

Sinn Féin was represented by its northern leader Michelle O'Neill alongside SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, UUP leader Steve Aiken and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long.

The first question put to the politicians by a member of the audience was: "Do you believe Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely?".

Mr Eastwood said he believes the first thing to be dealt with is "the emergency that is Brexit", and called for a second referendum to "stop this Brexit madness".

Mr Donaldson slated "poor negotiation" on Brexit by the UK government, and restated his party's opposition to Boris Johnson's proposed deal.

Ms O'Neill responded saying Brexit may make people rethink their stance on a united Ireland, if leaving the UK would mean re-entering the EU.

Ms Long said she believes Brexit has "certainly made Northern Ireland less stable", while Mr Aiken said Mr Johnson's deal makes Northern Ireland "a place apart", and called for the proposals to be stopped.

Several of the leaders rounded on Ms O'Neill over Sinn Féin's policy of not taking their seats at Westminster.

She insisted "one or two Irish MPs won't make a difference", in response to criticism by Mr Eastwood and Mr Aiken.

The SDLP leader, running in Foyle, restated that if elected he will take his seat in Westminster.

Ms O'Neill responded saying her MPs will never take an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

The politicians also responded to a question about whether a direct-rule health minister should be installed to deal with the ongoing crisis in the health service.

Mr Donaldson said: "We need the assembly back and we need it back today", but went on to say if talks to revive Stormont, due to start on Monday, do not result in agreement by the January 13 deadline, then direct rule should be considered.

"I think we have to look at handing it back to Westminster where people like me will be there to argue for Northern Ireland," he said.

Ms O'Neill said direct rule is "not an option".

"We can never go backwards, we can only go forwards," she said, calling for a "very substantial" financial injection from Westminster, claiming the health service is "on its knees due to Tory austerity".

Mr Aiken said there is a "health emergency", while Ms Long pointed out there is also a "crisis in education" and a "crisis in infrastructure".

"Do I want to see direct rule? No I don't, because I think it is a failure of devolution," she said.

But she said if agreement is not reached by January 13, the secretary of state needs to find "a form of government that actually can work" or call another election.

Mr Eastwood said no to direct rule, stating he wants to see Stormont back.