SENIOR colleagues of Arlene Foster have been accused of seeking to “cause maximum division and disruption” while the DUP leader attempts to mend relations broken by Brexit.
SDLP MLA Claire Hanna claimed the DUP was split, with MPs and agriculture minister Edwin Poots agitating over the protocol, while their leader adopted a more measured approach.
Last week DUP MP Ian Paisley told a Westminster committee that the British government should invoke Article 16, the safeguard that would allow the UK or EU to act unilaterally if the protocol causes "serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties”.
However, he later conceded that he was unaware of whether his party leader agreed with the call.
Mrs Foster yesterday sought to play down a claim by Mr Poots that the north’s schools and hospitals could face food shortages as a result of the new checks on goods arriving from Britain
"(Mr Poots) is not saying there is an issue now, because there is not an issue in relation to schools and hospitals, but when it has been raised at various meetings we need to take it seriously and get a solution to it,” she said.
Ms Hanna told The Irish News: “There’s definitely a split in the DUP.
“Arlene Foster seems to be attempting to deal with the situation, with some of her colleagues, the MPs and Edwin Poots, seeking to cause maximum division and disruption,” she said.
“There is a basic contradiction and they need to decide between deflection or making the Brexit they brought here work.”
