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Peter Robinson says Westminster election prize 'never greater' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
DUP leader Peter Robinson has told his party's annual conference "the prize at a Westminster election has never been greater" than in next May's poll. | |
Mr Robinson said electoral arithmetic could put Northern Ireland unionists at the centre of politics in the whole of the UK. | |
"This isn't just an opportunity for the DUP, but for unionism as a whole. | |
"It would be a real tragedy if unionism lost out because of split votes and spoiler candidates," he said. | |
"We are not seeking to be part of any government coalition, but, with an open mind, we are willing to sustain, in office, a government that offers policies and programmes that are in the best interests of Northern Ireland in particular, and the United Kingdom as a whole." | |
In his keynote speech to the conference, Mr Robinson also addressed "unionist begrudgers" who believe Northern Ireland would be better off under direct rule. | |
"Just ask them, do they want to pay water charges, face 10% annual increases in their rate bills and stand helpless while direct rule ministers remove all the other financial advantages that Stormont provides and Westminster does not," the first minister said. | |
"Remind them that it was not one, but two, direct rule administrations that were prepared to operate the scandalous On The Runs scheme behind our backs." | |
'Slimmed-down Stormont' | |
He said it was essential that devolution remained in place, but it had to be able to deliver for the people. | |
"The present devolved arrangements make decision-taking difficult and slow," he said. | |
"We need to improve the mechanisms for decision-taking and remove blocking processes in order to allow the assembly the ability to decide issues rather than having them vetoed in the executive. | |
"At the end of the talks process we want to see a slimmed-down, lower-cost, smoother-operating, delivery-orientated and more democratic Stormont." | |
Mr Robinson said that in a few weeks' he hoped the government would announce that corporation tax powers would be devolved to Northern Ireland. | |
"This would revolutionise our economy, create over 50,000 jobs and build prosperity for years to come," he said. | |
'Toilet paper' | |
Earlier, Gregory Campbell said the DUP would never agree to an Irish language act at Stormont. | |
He said his party would treat Sinn Fein's "entire wish list as no more than toilet paper". | |
The conference opened at a hotel in County Down on Friday. | The conference opened at a hotel in County Down on Friday. |
There were speeches from a series of ministers, including new arrivals Jim Wells and Mervyn Storey. | There were speeches from a series of ministers, including new arrivals Jim Wells and Mervyn Storey. |
On Friday night, North Belfast MP Mr Dodds also focussed his remarks on the possibility that the DUP could play an influential role after May's election. | |
Currently the DUP has eight MPs, with independent unionist Lady Sylvia Hermon taking the overall unionist tally to nine. | Currently the DUP has eight MPs, with independent unionist Lady Sylvia Hermon taking the overall unionist tally to nine. |
Mr Dodds argued that if unionists made gains in places like Fermanagh, South Belfast and East Belfast that number could rise to 12. | Mr Dodds argued that if unionists made gains in places like Fermanagh, South Belfast and East Belfast that number could rise to 12. |
He said the DUP wanted Northern Ireland's voice to echo through the halls of Westminster and down the corridors of Downing Street. | He said the DUP wanted Northern Ireland's voice to echo through the halls of Westminster and down the corridors of Downing Street. |
He mentioned a referendum on EU membership and the full application of the military covenant as priorities, and criticised Prime Minister David Cameron's backing for English-only votes in the House of Commons as a quick fix which amounted to playground politics. |