No sign of Edwin Poots trying to heal rift within DUP, say Peter Weir and Diane Dodds

Outgoing Stormont Economy Minister Diane Dodds and outgoing Education Minister Peter Weir have expressed disappointment in the make-up of the ministerial appointments announced by DUP leader Edwin Poots.

Mr Poots' choice for Economy Minister was Paul Frew and Education Minister was Michelle McIlveen. 

Paul Givan was named as First Minister designate. Mr Poots paid tribute to Ms Foster, thanking her for the "excellent work" she had done.

In a tweet, which has been retweeted by former DUP leader Arlene Foster and former leadership contender Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Mrs Dodds described the make-up of the appointments as “regrettable”.

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“It is regrettable however that the new team announced today does not match the rhetoric about healing and bringing the party together,” she tweeted.

Mr Weir acknowledged "some great appointments" but on balance said it was "sad there is little sign of healing or reaching out." 

Mr Poots was later asked about the negative reaction from Ms Dodds.

"I accept that Diane probably isn't in the best place today," he said.

"I have been in that circumstance twice before where I've been a minister and I've been asked to step aside for others. And therefore that is a natural reaction."

However, Mr Poots said it was "inaccurate" to claim his team was only made up of his supporters.

"This team includes people who didn't vote for me, who did vote for me and who didn't declare their intentions," he said.

Mr Poots also rejected allegations made by some resigning DUP members that there had been bullying and intimidation from members of his camp during the leadership contest.

When it was put to him that people may feel too scared to voice concerns about recent developments within the DUP, Mr Poots said: "Let me just nail this thing about being too scared. This party is a party that will reach out to people and I, as a leader, am not someone who is either scary or bullying - I want to nail that absolutely and factually.

"If anybody wants to bring forward facts, they will be investigated, and they will be investigated fairly.

"I'm not standing for people coming forward with accusations without backing them with facts."

Speaking after the announcement that he is to be nominated as first minister, Mr Givan said: "There is a huge responsibility that comes with this position, particularly in serving the people of Northern Ireland."

The ministerial roles will be designate at this stage, with the appointments post-dated to take effect from Monday.

Outgoing First Minister Mrs Foster previously indicated that she would stand down when Mr Poots names a new ministerial team.

But Mr Poots said Mrs Foster will remain as First Minister to lead a British-Irish Council meeting in her home constituency of Fermanagh on Friday.

Mr Poots began his reshuffle of Stormont posts by announcing new chairs and vice-chairs of a number of committees.

Flanked by the new appointments and deputy party leader Paula Bradley, Mr Poots named his new team.

They include Christopher Stalford as principal deputy speaker and vice-chairman of the Standards and Privileges Committee, Tom Buchanan as vice chairman of procedures, Keith Buchanan as vice chairman of the Finance Committee and Gordon Lyons as vice chairman of the Health Committee.

Mr Poots also unveiled David Hilditch as vice chairman of the Infrastructure Committee and William Irwin as vice chairman of the Audit Committee.

Pam Cameron will become chairwoman of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey has been appointed chairman of the Justice Committee and Jonathan Buckley will take up the role as chairman of the Infrastructure Committee.

DUP deputy leader Ms Bradley has been appointed chairwoman of the Communities Committee and William Humphreys is chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

Speaking after the announcement of new DUP Ministers, Colum Eastwood MP said: “The truth is, however, that changing the personnel and personalities around the Executive table will not make one blind bit of difference if there is no change in attitude and no step change in delivering on the issues that matter to people.

"Hundreds of thousands of people waiting for hospital treatment, many of them in pain, want to know when this Executive will produce a funded plan to get them the help they need. People who have lost their jobs during the pandemic want to know how the Executive will support them to find new work. Students in places like Derry want to know when the Executive will deliver on the commitment to expand higher education and give them the opportunity to create a life for themselves on this island.

“The faces may be changing but the people in power are still the same. The DUP and Sinn Féin have been joint heads of government for 14 years. We have already started to see a lurch back to the same old politics of division and deadlock. People deserve something better. I hope that we see a change in attitude and a step change in delivery. Anything less is more of the same and it isn’t good enough.” 

The new appointments come as the DUP has been left reeling by a number of resignations.

South Down DUP constituency association chairman and councillor Glynn Hanna, his daughter Diane Forsythe, association member Richard McKee, and councillor Kathryn Owen all announced their resignations this week.

The latest to quit is Upper Bann association member Roberta McNally.

In her resignation statement posted on social media, Ms McNally referred to scenes at a party executive meeting to ratify Mr Poots as leader last month.

“Having been at the meeting myself, I also witnessed senior members telling people to put their hands down to enable the vote to be open,” she said.

“It was clear that those of us who did put our hands up were being noted.

“The arrogance of some senior members at the meeting was mind-blowing.

“I personally, until now, have enjoyed my time in the DUP and it was a great privilege to be elected onto the executive.

“I am extremely sorry to say that I informed the Upper Bann chairman of my resignation.”