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'Mistake' not to back police deal 'Mistake' not to back police deal
(29 minutes later)
First Minister Peter Robinson has said it would be "a massive mistake" for any politician not to back the policing and justice deal next Tuesday.First Minister Peter Robinson has said it would be "a massive mistake" for any politician not to back the policing and justice deal next Tuesday.
He told a business community breakfast in Templepatrick it was a good deal and he had "no embarrassment" in asking people to support it.He told a business community breakfast in Templepatrick it was a good deal and he had "no embarrassment" in asking people to support it.
The DUP leader said it would "ill-serve the people of Northern Ireland" if anyone held back on the decision.The DUP leader said it would "ill-serve the people of Northern Ireland" if anyone held back on the decision.
The Ulster Unionist assembly party is to discuss the issue later on Friday.The Ulster Unionist assembly party is to discuss the issue later on Friday.
The DUP had been insisted that Ulster Unionist support was essential if the party was going to proceed with the devolution of policing and justice. The DUP had been insisting that Ulster Unionist support was essential if the party was going to proceed with the devolution of policing and justice.
This has thrown into question the next stage of the Hillsborough agreement - a cross-community vote in the assembly on Tuesday calling for policing and justice powers to be transferred from Westminster. That had thrown into question the next stage of the Hillsborough agreement - a cross-community vote in the assembly on Tuesday calling for policing and justice powers to be transferred from Westminster.
One UUP source said their meeting was a "brainstorming session" to weigh options, ahead of an assembly debate on the transfer of policing and justice. However, on Thursday the DUP indicated that UUP support may not be vital.
The DUP leader seemed to suggest a more critical measure will be the DUP's own executive meeting on Monday.
'Somersault'
One UUP source said their meeting on Friday was a "brainstorming session" to weigh options, ahead of the assembly debate on the transfer of policing and justice.
The party has been refusing to endorse the Hillsborough Agreement.The party has been refusing to endorse the Hillsborough Agreement.
It has been insisting that a deal on education and other issues is required.It has been insisting that a deal on education and other issues is required.
Friday's away day is part of a series of discussions over the weekend and follows days of dialogue involving the DUP and Ulster Unionist leaderships.
On Thursday, the First Minister and DUP leader seemed to suggest a more critical measure will be the DUP's own Executive meeting on Monday.
TUV leader Jim Allister said that the DUP was preparing a "spectacular somersault" on policing and justice.TUV leader Jim Allister said that the DUP was preparing a "spectacular somersault" on policing and justice.
"He set the test for community confidence as requiring support from the UUP in the assembly on 9 March," he said."He set the test for community confidence as requiring support from the UUP in the assembly on 9 March," he said.
"Now, seemingly unable to obtain cover from the UUP he is preparing nonetheless to vote through his disastrous deal with Sinn Fein despite assurances to the contrary to the 14 snowmen and despite knowing that his party only represents a minority of unionist opinion.""Now, seemingly unable to obtain cover from the UUP he is preparing nonetheless to vote through his disastrous deal with Sinn Fein despite assurances to the contrary to the 14 snowmen and despite knowing that his party only represents a minority of unionist opinion."