Robin Newton MBE MLA

East Belfast DUP MLA Robin Newton has said the recent statements of Jim Allister, the self-appointed political Nostradamus of Northern Ireland politics, have shown him to be more of a court jester. Mr. Allister’s only interest is in scaremongering and aiding in the delivery of a Sinn Fein agenda.

Robin Newton said,

“Over the past number of months, we have heard the unelected political Nostradamus, Jim Allister, making his alarmist type predictions on the outcome of the Policing and Justice Negotiations.   Unfounded statements such as Policing and Justice leading to the creation of an Irish language Act, Sinn Fein would control the Justice department and be active in the appointment of Judges and the daily operations of the police; and that the devolution of Policing and Justice was a staging post to a united Ireland.  

However, it should now be perfectly clear to even his most biased members; there is no Sinn Fein Justice Minister; there is no increase in the number of North/South bodies; the Parades Commission will go.  The DUP has negotiated a fair deal that is beneficial to Northern Ireland.

The DUP has always insisted there was a need to devolve Policing and Justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly; it has always been a unionist objective.  It was part of our 2007 manifesto on which we fought the Assembly elections, and Jim Allister was a party officer who endorsed this manifesto. 

The DUP team has proven to be tough negotiators and will continue to be so in the interests of unionism; and to the benefit the whole of Northern Ireland.  

If it was left to Jim Allister we would have direct rule implemented and be on course for Sinn Fein’s target of a united Ireland by 2016.”