Gerry Adams delusional says Peter Robinson

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-33365361

Version 0 of 1.

Peter Robinson has described Gerry Adams as "delusional", following an article by the Sinn Féin leader on the current crisis at Stormont.

In his weekly column in the Andersonstown News, Mr Adams said the Northern Ireland political structures were "hanging by a thread".

He blamed the government and unionist parties for the crisis.

Mr Robinson, the Northern Ireland first minister, accused him of "pathetic posturing and specious spinning".

Last month, Stormont's new budget bill passed its second stage after a vote in the assembly.

However, its final stage is dependent on a deal on welfare reform.

But since the striking of the Stormont House Agreement, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Green Party have opposed the plans to implement the changes.

"They should stop looking over their shoulders at the anti-austerity cranks who advocate spending other people's money and accumulating debt for future generations," Mr Robinson said.

"We are required under the devolution settlement to operate within the spending totals we are allocated.

"Of course everyone wants to have more funding and we should continue to ensure we get a fair deal taking into account our special circumstances, but unless we are prepared to operate the devolution system we all agreed, then collapse is inevitable.

"If Sinn Fein is unable to do 'tough government' they should stand aside and let parties with the guts to govern do the job."

'Gravest threat'

In his newspaper column, Mr Adams said Sinn Féin had been consistently opposed to "the Tory cuts agenda".

"In the 17 years since it was achieved, the [Good Friday] Agreement has faced many challenges, but the determination of the British Tory government, and of the unionist parties, to implement swingeing austerity cuts represents the gravest threat yet to the political institutions," he said.

"At this 11th hour I would urge civic society, the business, voluntary and community sector, the churches and trade union movement to play a full and positive role in defending citizens against austerity and in defending public services and democratic political institutions.

"The British Tories need to be persuaded to agree a realistic funding for the executive, which delivers for citizens. Without a working budget this is not tenable."