Northern Ireland

Arlene Foster says Stormont should move away from mandatory coalition

Former First Minister Arlene Foster in June last year. Picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association
Former First Minister Arlene Foster in June last year. Picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association Former First Minister Arlene Foster in June last year. Picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association

FORMER First Minister Arlene Foster said Stormont should move away from a mandatory coalition.

The ex-DUP leader suggested discussions need to be held on changing the make-up of the Executive's power-sharing structures.

She said it had been difficult to reach agreement on how to deal with the pandemic, particularly following the first lockdown two years ago.

Mrs Foster, who resigned as DUP leader last year following an internal coup, said it was difficult for people to agree when there are some "very left wing, socialist, veering on communists" with those she said are "right of centre".

"It is unrealistic not to have disagreements," Mrs Foster told the Belfast Telegraph.

She added: "Is it time to move away from mandatory coalition, to a government that shares a vision?"

However, she questioned whether change could happen and if people would accept it.

"These are huge questions," Mrs Foster said.

Speaking at a gathering at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast organised by EY, the consultancy and accountancy firm, Mrs Foster said the Executive did not make all of the right decisions.

"No, we did not get everything right," she told the audience.

She highlighted the impact on vulnerable children and elderly people who spent the last weeks of their lives in isolation.

She said some in the Executive wanted everything shut down while she advocated a different approach.

Mrs Foster said if some politicians pushed back against specific advice it was seen as "somehow endangering health and more interested in wealth".

"It was really, really unhelpful," she said.

"In a one-party government (you) would have been struggling but we were in a five-party coalition."

"But we had to find common ground," she added.