McNarry 'stitched up' by UUP leader

Published Monday, 30 January 2012

Ulster Unionist David McNarry has lashed out against his party leader, after being dropped from his position as deputy chair of the Stormont Education Committee - claiming Tom Elliott is "digging a hole for himself".

We’re sorry. This video is unavailable from your location.

A party divided
Analysis

The Strangford MLA has now quit the UUP Assembly group over the disciplinary action, which was taken over comments he made in a newspaper interview about "secret talks" with the DUP.

Asked if he felt stitched up, Mr McNarry said he did - but insisted he was not leaving the party itself.

"I've been in the Ulster Unionist Party since I was 15 - I'm not going anywhere. I'm not joining the DUP," he told UTV Live.

But, speaking about the action taken by Mr Elliott, he added: "I feel badly damaged and betrayed.

"I've tried to protect him (Tom Elliott) and the longer and the more he talks, the more he's digging a hole for himself."

Earlier on Monday, Mr Elliott said that quitting the party's Assembly group was an over-reaction by Mr McNarry and that he had no regrets about disciplining him over his media comments.

He had informed me that he was going to carry out the interview and that I had said: 'That's fine, providing you stick to the course and lines we have issued'. But I believe he went far and beyond that.
Tom Elliott, UUP

The circumstances leading to the row began when DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson told UTV last week that he would like to see one unionist party in Northern Ireland.

Mr McNarry gave his reaction, voicing support for greater cooperation between unionist parties, then revealed to the Belfast Telegraph that he had actually taken part in "secret talks" with the DUP.

"I believe that David went beyond his remit in his interview," Mr Elliott said on Monday.

"Not because he was talking to the DUP - that was not an issue, because he was mandated to do that - but the issue was around how far he went in the interview."

Immediately after receiving a call from his party leader on Friday night, Mr McNarry responded to the disciplinary action by issuing a statement saying he was quitting the Assembly group.

On Monday, claiming his integrity was on the line, he made his decision official.

"I had hoped he wouldn't have done that - that certainly wasn't my intention," Mr Elliott responded.

"I have known David for a long, long time, so it disappoints me."

But Mr Elliott - particularly angered by Mr McNarry's claim that in the future the DUP could hold Stormont's First Minister position, with the UUP holding the office's Junior Minister post - stands by the action he has taken in disciplining one of his senior party members.

"It wasn't a hanging offence, the punishment certainly wasn't severe - all I was doing was to remove the vice-chairmanship of the Education Committee," Mr Elliott said.

"Lots of people in this party don't have any chairman or vice chairmanships, so I just believe it was the least level of punishment you could offer at all.

"But he decided to remove himself from the Assembly group."

Mr McNarry, who on Monday also revealed that Mr Elliott had himself taken part in the talks with the DUP, took his seat alongside independent members in the Stormont chamber.

With the Ulster Unionists divided over unionist unity, some political commentators sense that the row could actually turn into a leadership issue before the party's AGM at the end of March.

Comments

14 Comments

jean in belfast wrote (113 days ago):

sad that david has done to david , i always found him to be a sincere and gentleman , anything we ever approached him on and to help us with he was true to his word . tom elliott is a buffoon and he will be rewarded for his stupidtity at the elections !!!

charles in lisbellaw wrote (113 days ago):

The UU who? are they still around? I though they had packed away their stuck up, looking down their toffee noses, lording it over us tent long ago!!. It really is quite laughable that these idiots still think they are a viable political entity. They still think in a "landed gentry" fashion that they have a God given right over the ordinary Joe. "Daft as a lorry load of brushes".

Stevo the Magnificent in NEWTOWNABBEY wrote (114 days ago):

Right on, Jon, ne'er a truer word spoken on the subject! There should absolutely be one broad-church Unionist Party, with a wide range of vested interests, and a strong, cohesive vision for Norn Iron that both respects the principles of a shared future, but also ensures the democratic will of a weighted majority of it's citizens are instituted. One way to go about this would be returning Stormont to bicameral status; with 72 MLA's elected on PR as currently, with a voluntary coalition executive that holds a majority across community lines, with the ability to pass legislation on a majority rule basis, as long as that majority is across community lines. Also, bring back the N.I. Senate, with 26 Senators elected on a PR basis across a single Norn Iron-wide constituency every five years, and with the power to amend, revise, block, and even veto legislation (but not initiate it) passed by the lower chamber.

Paddy in Omagh wrote (114 days ago):

I have to laugh at the unionist fear of sf and the fear of the union collapsing.. Well it's starting to bare some cracks with Scotland due to leave.. Let's hope we can follow

Billy in Belfast wrote (114 days ago):

Just watched this man’s interview on Stormont Today and I can honestly say this man is hurting. Whilst the money grabbing D.U.P. would have to change its treacherous ways to unite both Party’s the U.U.P. have a clear and decisive choice to make unite or face oblivion?? Meanwhile the T.U.V. are growing in strength with the decision by the First Ministers stunt to visit unrepentant ground that glorifies dead terrorists all whilst Sinn Fein continue to question the roles of M.I.5 and F.R.U. roles with counter terrorism in Northern Ireland but correct me if I am wrong but you either support Policing and Justice or you Don’t. I honestly and sincerely hope David all the best in the future, you made the right decision.

More Comments

^ Top of Comments