Month: February 2019

Commenting on events in the Commons last night, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland, Robert Hill said:

“What a shock to a lot of Northern Ireland citizens and Brexit voters last night as the DUP betrayed their Brexit voting electorate  by voting with Mrs May and voting against a true Brexit. No – Northern Ireland was not on the ballot paper, the United Kingdom was. It is also accepted that the vast majority of those who voted leave here (350,000) were Unionist voters (and 7 of the 10 DUP MPs represent LEAVE voting constituencies)... So when last night – Nigel Dodds led his colleagues through the lobby to vote against a true EU exit and thus in favour of a Government plan which would see us tied to the EU as a vassal state – the DUP made a conscious decision to ignore their own leave voting electorate. 

“All week long we have been reading about the splits within the DUP on Brexit. They have now been exposed bare. The DUP either caved into pressure, or they showed their true colours once more. Only UKIP offers a true United vision and plan for Brexit and our dedicated representatives are determined to ensure that the will of the people across this nation is delivered. 

“We in Northern Ireland must all realise that remaining an essential and equal part of an Independent and outward-looking  United Kingdom is far more important than appeasing the demands of teŕrorists through the flawed and antiquated  systems propped up by ‘agreements’ of the past. There is a false narrative being peddled by many in the media about what is really happening in Northern Ireland. Truth: We have a broken and outdated system of non-government which has been held up by the ‘bully-boys’ in Sinn Fein for two years.

The DUP and the other parties here have been happy to take a salary for not fully doing their jobs. The DUP has again opted to go down the path of least establishment resistance by siding with those who wish for the United Kingdom to remain trapped by the EU. In doing so, they’ve ensured that their profitable positions as the supply partner of this failing Government remains in tact.”

Commenting further, Robert added:

“Thankfully May’s ‘not really leaving the EU’ motion backed by the DUP was defeated. We, the leave voting people of the United Kingdom will not be bullied into anything. We are a free people and have decided that we are far better off liberated from the shackles of the EU, its plan for a United States of Europe, its army and its National Socialist origins!

“350,000 LEAVE voters here in Northern Ireland now need to take stock of the actions of their MPs in Parliament last night. The DUP will clearly do whatever is in their interests, putting themselves first. It’s worth repeating: Only UKIP can be trusted on Brexit.”

A recent article in the Belfast Telegraph once again exposes the discontent that’s rife within the DUP ranks over Brexit. This was Abundantly clear to anyone close to DUP thinking – despite the external pronouncements by some.

Commenting on all of this, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland, Robert Hill said:

“The question has to be asked: Have the DUP ever been fully committed to truly leaving the EU? Was it money that swayed them to decide to support Brexit to a point in the run up to the referendum? Apart from Sammy Wilson – many senior members of the DUP have remained quiet on such an important issue. Only Sammy appears to have been consistently publicly committed to actually exiting the EU.

“There have been mixed messages ever since the referendum and splits started to appear not long after the vote, with members both publicly and privately refusing  to say how they voted – most notably among them was the then Finance Minister Simon Hamilton and former senior advisor, Richard Bullick. Beneath the surface of the public facade are DUP members who would be quite content if the largest vote in history was betrayed. Some within their ranks wouldn’t be fussed if the entire United Kingdom was wedded to a customs union. As is always the case, the DUP are simply holding meetings and waiting for a form of words that they can repackage and spin to the electorate. “

“What is revealing is that amongst the few members willing to publicly speak out are a former chair of the South Belfast DUP association, David Cather and Bangor Councillor – Tom Smith. Both of them were previously and consistently opposed to Brexit. I wonder how many share their views, but won’t speak out for fear of de-selection or disciplinary proceedings?”

Commenting further, Robert added:

“The truth is, there is no mythical ‘good deal’ with the EU. The EU will never negotiate in good faith because they don’t want us to leave. Only by walking away fully can we embrace the opportunities that Brexit will deliver for the nation. I’ve yet to hear a DUP member say that.

“In stark contrast to their half-hearted approach to Brexit, the discontent and the mixed messages: Every single member of UKIP across the United Kingdom will happily confirm they voted to leave, and nothing less than a complete and total withdrawal from the European Union, the Customs Union and the Single Market on March 29th will do.

It is an accepted fact that the vast majority of Unionists in Northern Ireland voted to leave. So those who voted leave should realise that only by voting for UKIP can you ensure your vote goes to the authentic party of Brexit and a true Brexiteer.”

Commenting on the Stormont Gravy train and the continued farce of MLAs taking a salary for nothing, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland, Robert Hill said:

“The farce dominating Northern Ireland politics, namely ‘the White Elephant’ Stormont, needs to be brought to an end now. A recent online poll by UKIP in Northern Ireland revealed unsurprisingly, that 92% of respondents were unhappy with the current system of devolved Government in Northern Ireland. This follows other polls conducted elsewhere recently which prove that people are frustrated with this long-running saga. Although by no means scientific, it’s a snap-shot of the public mood towards our non-legislating legislature.

“The latest figures revealed this week by Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley show that our shameful MLAs from the old parties have managed to claim £10.8 Million of our money in wages and expenses during their last two years of inactivity.

“We have funded this two year holiday for them while civil servants do their job, local schools ask parents for donations, people are in pain on waiting lists for major operations, our health Service suffers – and in some cases, people are relying on food banks to feed their families.”

“Much has been made of the recent two-tiered cuts to their wages; but even after these cuts fully kick in, each MLA will still manage to pocket a salary of £35,888 of your money to NOT sit in the Assembly and do the job we pay them to do.

“The old parties – aided and abetted by Mrs May’s Government are happy to allow this shambles to continue – as they blame everyone else but themselves. This highlights the deep-rooted flaws at the heart of our antiquated institutions.”

Commenting further, Robert added:

“Today, the great and the good of Northern Ireland will pull on their best suits to line-up and pose for photos whilst listening to Mrs May attempting to sell her woeful betrayal deal. They will put on a stage-managed show with the Prime Minister, and everyone will ignore the two elephants in the room: 1.) Her deal and its backstop is a dud that denies democracy, threatens the Union and betrays the people of this nation and 2.) Stormont is dead.”

“It is time for real change here and time for local politics to be delivered from the grassroots up. Only UKIP offers this change. Only UKIP is saying enough is enough and we’ll soon be highlighting our alternatives that put the people, not politicians first.

“We are calling for a permanent end to the Stormont gravy-train NOW. Maybe Mrs May could do us a favour and deliver for the people of Northern Ireland today by pulling the plug on this expensive farce.. We won’t hold our breath.”