The Five Demands

Sir Reg Empey conferma il ‘NO’ alla devolution al termine di un drammatico lunedì

Nessun spiraglio che faccia pensare ad un cambiamento di rotta dell’UUP nella decisione di non appoggiare il trasferimento dei poteri di polizia e giustizia da Londra a Belfast, soprattutto dopo il totale fallimento di un colloquio con Martin McGuinness che ieri si è chiuso dopo soli 3 minuti.
Di nessun spessore pare essere l’appello dell’ex presidente degli Stati Uniti, George Bush, che si è rivolto a David Cameron per convincere i Conservatori ad usare la propria influenza su Sir Reg Empey.
David Cameron si è espresso in favore della devolution.
Si è ipotizzata un’astensione dell’UUP dalla votazione di oggi, ma sembra meno probabile dopo le dichiarazioni rilasciate dal Segretario di Stato.
Shaun Woodward ha affermato che  il finanziamento di 800 milioni di sterline non sarà reso disponibile nel caso il voto a Stormont dovesse fallire.
Sir Reg Empey ha poi reagito con rabbia alle dichiarazioni di Woodward secondo cui il trasferimento dei poteri invierebbe un messaggio molto forte ai repubblicani responsabili della morte dell’agente di polizia Stephen Carroll.
Interessante sarà ora vedere la reazione del DUP, il quale aveva dichiarato che non avrebbe sostenuto la devolution senza l’appoggio dell’Ulster Unionist Party.
L’esecutivo dell’UUP in un comunicato ha detto: “prendiamo atto con rammarico che non vi è stata alcuna risposta positiva da parte di altri partiti alle nostre ragionevoli esigenze per consentire il nostro imminente sostegno al trasferimento dei poteri di polizia e di giustizia, in questo momento”.
“Il comitato esecutivo inoltre condannato il comportamento del Vice Primo Ministro e del Segretario di Stato negli ultimi giorni.”
L’utilizzo dell’espressione temporale ‘in questo momento’ è stato letto come un segno di flessibilità, nell’eventualità di un’eventuale mossa dell’ultimo minuto volta a soddisfare le richieste del partito.

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UUP to vote against policing deal (NewsLetter)
The UUP has decided to oppose the transfer of policing and justice in a key Assembly vote.
Following a day of drama at Stormont, including an Ulster Unionist meeting with Martin McGuinness that broke up after three minutes, the party executive backed its MLAs who wanted to vote against the justice transfer.
The UUP’s decision comes as a national newspaper reports that former US President George Bush contacted David Cameron urging the Conservative leader to use his influence, following the decision of Sir Reg Empey’s party.
The Conservatives and UUP have agreed an electoral alliance for the forthcoming Westminster poll.
Mr Cameron has already stressed his support for the devolution of policing and justice.
There had been speculation that the UUP might abstain in this afternoon’s Assembly justice vote, but attitudes hardened after remarks by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward antagonised the Ulster Unionists.
Mr Woodward had cited polling that, he claimed, showed rank and file UUP support for the deal, and he reiterated that £800m for policing and justice would not be available if the Stormont vote failed.
The UUP were particularly angry that Mr Woodward said that the transfer of justice powers would send a powerful message to the republican killers of PSNI constable Stephen Carroll.
The spotlight will this morning shift to how the DUP responds to the Ulster Unionist decision.
Party leader Peter Robinson had initially said that he would not support the devolution move without UUP support.
Mr Robinson has faced a further challenge in ensuring that no disaffected hardline MLAs in his party vote against the measure.
A DUP executive meeting last night was considering the matter.
The UUP executive said in a statement that it “notes with regret that there has been no positive response forthcoming from other parties to our reasonable requirements to enable our support for devolution of policing and justice to be forthcoming at this time”.
“The executive committee further condemned the behaviour of the Deputy First Minister and the Secretary of State in recent days.”
However, in wording that seemed to leave room for flexibility if there is any last minute move to meet the party’s demands, the executive said it could not “at this time” support the justice move.
The UUP is annoyed that it is being urged to back a deal that it says it was excluded from. It also wants changes to ensure that the Stormont executive is “less dysfunctional” and that it makes more decisions.
There has been strong pressure on UUP leader Sir Reg Empey from numerous directions, including a weekend phone call from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Former DUP leader Ian Paisley said last night that the UUP would be making “a colossal mistake” by not voting for justice devolution.