Martin McGuinness’s challenge to DUP and unionists: ‘Bring welfare cuts debate to Assembly’

THE unionist parties wanting to impose welfare cuts ordered by the Tory-led government at Westminster should bring the legislation before the Assembly where it can be openly debated and voted on by MLAs in public, Martin McGuinness told the closing day of Sinn Féin’s National Strategy Conference on Friday in Termonfeckin, County Louth.

“That’s the democratic thing to do,” the deputy First Minister said.

“Let me be absolutely clear today so that David Cameron and his supporters in the unionist parties understand fully my position.

“Sinn Féin is absolute in our opposition to welfare cuts, north and south of the Border.

“Sinn Féin have attempted to persuade the other Executive parties to unite against these Tory cuts and to join with us in demanding the right to design a system which meets our needs as is now being promised to the Scottish people.

“It is our primary duty to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

“This is about choices for all the parties in the Assembly.

“We do have a choice.

“In Sinn Féin, we have made our choice.

“We reject this attack on the poor, people with disabilities and the most vulnerable in our society. We will defend and stand with the working-class communities that the Tories are targeting.

“No one in the North of Ireland voted for these vicious cuts.

“No one in the North of Ireland voted for those Tory politicians who are driving this agenda.

“Not one vote was cast in the North of Ireland for those who make up the Tory-led coalition in London. We did not vote for welfare cuts.

“Cuts in welfare payments are not part of our Programme for Government. In fact ,the Tory cuts came like a hammer blow after our Programme for Government.

“If, for ideological reasons or in an attempt to curry favour with the Tories, the DUP wish to inflict these devastating cuts on working-class unionists as well as the rest of us, then they can and should bring the legislation onto the floor of the Assembly, explain their support for Tory policies and let the representatives of the people decide.

“That’s what the Assembly is for, that is the democratic thing to do.

“If Nelson McCausland on behalf of the DUP refuses to bring it to the floor of the Assembly, then the only other option is to put it directly to the people in an election.

“Sinn Féin has no fear of an election.”