DUP vote plan 'not caused by TUV'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8253056.stm

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DUP plans to change the Stormont voting system are not a response to the TUV, the party's deputy leader has said.

Nigel Dodds said the plan was not a response to Traditional Unionist leader Jim Allister, who said the party should refuse to work the present system.

First Minister Peter Robinson suggested "weighted-majority voting" would provide better government than the current cross-community arrangements.

Mr Dodds said throwing the "whole thing in the air" would lead to direct rule.

"It's all very well to say let's just throw the whole thing into the air - the likelihood there is that we will go back to direct rule, with strong Dublin influence, with Sinn Fein pulling the strings behind the scenes," he said.

"Now that's the real alternative, and that is what would happen if you were to follow the scenario that has been outlined by others."