:: DUP – The DUP's preferred way forward in the short-to-medium term is encapsulated in the paper Economy Minister Diane Dodds brought to the executive as a alternative to the health minister's proposals. This is despite Arlene Foster saying last month that restrictions would end at midnight tonight come what may. Since the party deployed the cross-community vote veto on Tuesday night, it has been presented as a 'compromise', though effectively it's Hobson's choice – accept it or lift the restrictions altogether. It would see close-contact services such as hair and beauty salons back in business from tomorrow but by appointment only, while unlicensed premises such as cafes and coffee shops could also reopen. However, pubs and other licensed premises would remain closed for another fortnight with a 'scores on the doors' accreditation system then coming into operation to give customers a guarantee that the business was 'safe'.
:: Sinn Féin – The party has moved within a matter of days from advocating something akin to the DUP's proposals to supporting an extension of blanket restrictions for another two weeks. On Sunday, deputy leader Michelle O'Neill suggested that there could be some "flexibility" shown to the hospitality sector, but said so-called wet pubs would remain shut. She said the executive was considering allowing cafes and restaurants to open without alcohol, while bars would remain closed. Having voted for Robin Swann's proposals on Tuesday night, the deputy first minister was yesterday adamant that the executive must heed the chief medical officer's advice. "If we don’t keep current restrictions in place for another two weeks, more people will die," she said.
:: SDLP – The party's sole executive minister has been signalling for more than a week that lifting the restrictions wholesale would be ill-advised and then moved to firmer position supporting a two-week extension in line with what the health minister was proposing. Ahead of Tuesday's executive meeting Colum Eastwood said: “The SDLP has been clear, if the medical and scientific evidence shows that the only way to reduce the possibility of further restrictions in the mouth of Christmas is to extend the current restrictions, then we support the extension for another 14 days provided financial support is given to businesses affected."
:: Alliance – Naomi Long backed Robin Swann's paper seeking to keep restrictions in place for a fortnight though ahead of the executive meeting there was a sense Alliance was hedging its bets, simply saying the executive needed a "clear and agreed" position. Deputy leader Stephen Farry said earlier this week: "It would be wrong if the clock was allowed to run down on this and we saw the restrictions almost disappearing by default." Indications last night suggested the party would vote for the DUP's plan in order to avoid the default situation the North Down MP referred to.
:: Ulster Unionists – It's UUP minister Robin Swann that has the unenviable task of bringing the Department of Health's proposals to the executive table, which denies him and his party the latitude afforded to other ministers. Mr Swann clearly supports what he has put forward but his party hasn't been especially vocal in backing his plan to keep restrictions in place for two weeks and has instead focused attention on ensuring support for businesses. For instance, East Belfast MLA Andy Allen said on Tuesday: "I appreciate the executive have complex and difficult decisions to make when considering what, if any, restrictions are required beyond the current restrictions." Yesterday Mr Swann tabled a second paper proposing a one-week 'circuit breaker' that would give ministers "breathing space".
