Direct rule would see ‘radical woke agenda foisted’ in NI – Robinson

Detailed summary

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said previous bouts of direct rule law ‘liberal’ abortion laws imposed in the region.

A return to direct rule from London would see a “radical woke agenda foisted” on Northern Ireland, Gavin Robinson has said.

The DUP leader warned his party faithful what could happen if they pulled down the power-sharing government in the region, pointing to the “most liberal abortion law in Europe” being imposed on a previous Stormont collapse.

Mr Robinson is under pressure from some quarters of unionism to withdraw his party’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from post to force First Minister Michelle O’Neill from her position.

It comes in the simmering political fallout following the Drumcree parading dispute, which saw an Orange Order procession unable to walk the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road despite a Parades Commission green light.

Scores of Sinn Féin representatives, including Ms O’Neill, have been interviewed by police and investigated for alleged breaches of the commission’s determination in terms of a protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

While Ms Little-Pengelly remains in post, the DUP has stopped facilitating joint engagements between her and the First Minister.

This included last weekend, which prevented both ministers from taking part in the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Belfast City Hall in their official capacity.

However, Upper Bann Carla Lockhart has resigned from the DUP, saying the party should have ensured serious consequences for Ms O’Neill.

In his weekly letter to party members, Mr Robinson said he understands the “real frustration with Sinn Féin”.

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