DUP European candidate Diane Dodds has said that the DUP is preventing Sinn Fein from delivering on their 2007 Assembly Manifesto. To make her point Mrs Dodds listed key pledges that Sinn Fein made in 2007, but had failed to achieve in the Assembly. She said the only way a Sinn Fein agenda would be advanced is if they manage to steal victory in the European election. Speaking to party members and supporters in Omagh, West Tyrone, Diane Dodds said:
“No reasonable or impartial person could seriously suggest that devolution has been beneficial to Republicanism. Only today on the radio, Alban Maguinness admitted that the DUP is beating Sinn Fein in the Assembly. Nationalists are no longer setting the agenda in Stormont. That is because of the sterling work of the DUP in the Assembly.
At the time of the last Assembly election Sinn Fein made various promises to their electorate. Whilst their manifesto was long on promises, they have been proven short on delivery inside the Assembly. That is because of the hard work of the DUP. By staying on the field of battle in Stormont and by not running away from Sinn Fein, as some advocate, we have ensured their agenda cannot be advanced. Using devolution we have brought the Sinn Fein agenda to a grinding halt.
Just look at their manifesto. They promised their supporters more north-south bodies. Where are they? The DUP has put the brakes on North-Southery and increased the east-west relationship. There are no new north-south bodies because the DUP has used devolution to shift the focus of the Assembly to the much more beneficial east-west axis.
The Sinn Fein manifesto in 2007 promised new all-Ireland units in each government department. Where are they? The have not been delivered and thanks to the DUP they never will. The Sinn Fein 2007 manifesto promised a referendum on Irish Unity. Where is it? They promised their supporters seven super-councils in a post RPA environment. Where are they? They have failed to get them. Thanks to the DUP there will be eleven councils with special protections for minority Unionist communities in places like West Tyrone.
They promised their supporters new tax-varying powers for the Northern Ireland Assembly. Imagine a bunch of self-confessed Socialists with new tax-varying powers! Where are they? Thanks to the DUP that will not happen. They promised the abolition of academic selection. It isn’t going to happen and no amount of bone-headed bullying by Caitriona Ruane can alter that reality. Where also is the much promised and vaunted Irish Language Act? It doesn’t exist because the DUP consigned it to the dustbin.
The only way that Sinn Fein can advance is if Unionism splits and becomes weakened. In this European election they are desperately hoping to steal the contest by Unionist apathy and division. I urge my fellow Unionists not to sleep walk into disaster. Do not stay at home or waste your vote on maverick splitters. Let’s keep Unionism winning in Northern Ireland by delivering a strong DUP vote on 4th June. Let’s keep frustrating and blocking the Sinn Fein agenda, whilst building a positive Unionist one in the devolved government at Stormont. As an elected MEP I will play a leadership role in Europe to ensuring that the interests of Unionism are defended at the highest levels of government as part of a strong, united, determined DUP team.”
