https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/he-must-have-different-information-than-me-dups-sammy-wilson-disputes-peter-robinson-suggestion-stormont-deal-close/a1672181684.html
DUP MP Sammy Wilson has rejected the suggestion from his former party leader that the Assembly could be restored saying he does not “get the impression we are close” to a deal.
Mr Wilson made the comments in response to an interview former DUP leader Peter Robinson gave to Times Radio in which the former First Minister told listeners to that he hoped for a restoration within a “number of weeks”.
Responding on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster, Mr Wilson said Mr Robinson “must have different information than I have”.
Meanwhile TUV leader Jim Allister called the intervention “flawed analysis”.
Mr Wilson said: “Peter knows and the public know we have set out certain objectives that we believe are necessary for the stability of the Assembly and the safety of the union and if those conditions are not met it is pointless going back into the Assembly.
“You have to see the nature of the deal to decide whether it is a good deal or not. The objectives we set out were to restore Northern Ireland’s place in the union. We are a unionist party and you would expect us to do that.
“I certainly don’t get the impression we are close [to a deal] the very fact the government is now using the kind of economic blackmail… is indication they know they have not sought to move the position along. He [Peter Robinson] must have different information than I have.”
Mr Robinson said Northern Ireland is “very close” to the period where decisions have to be taken on a way forward – with or without the DUP’s return.
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Peter Robinson: ‘I hope Donaldson will get sufficient progress to allow Stormont return’
Mr Robinson – who was First Minister between 2008 and 2016 – said it was important the outstanding issues were resolved, but that eventually, Northern Ireland could have the “best of both worlds” with dual market access.
The Stormont Executive has not functioned since February 2022, when then-First Minister Paul Givan resigned over his party’s opposition to the NI Protocol, the forerunner to the Windsor Framework Brexit deal adopted by the Government in February this year.
After a question on the future of the Stormont institutions, Mr Robinson told listeners to Times Radio that he hoped for a restoration within a “number of weeks”.
“People used to talk about the Titanic in terms of it being all right when it left here (Belfast),” he said.
“To some extent I can say that of my period as First Minister. I think there is a massive desire for the Assembly to get up and running. That is the policy of the party I previously led.
“I think we are coming very close to the period when decisions have to be taken, not just by the DUP, but by the Government if the DUP does not go back.
“I would hope within the next number of weeks that Sir Jeffrey will get sufficient [progress] to allow him to return to the Assembly.
“I think it’s important we deal with those issues; many of them are constitutional, others are economic.
“While it seems a long period now in the fullness of time, waiting until you get things right could serve the country very well and we could have virtually the best of both worlds with having access in a seamless way both to the UK market and the European market.”
TUV leader Jim Allister branded the intervention by the former party leader as “orchestrated choreography”.
“His flawed analysis is dependent on a glaring fallacy, namely the pretence that through Stormont unionists could achieve further Protocol changes,” Mr Allister said.
Meanwhile UUP leader Doug Beattie said Mr Robinson was a “pragmatist”.
“He is literally saying what I have been saying for the last two years,” Mr Beattie said.
“I think he understands the way to secure the union is to have devolution. I think he is an important voice in the DUP. I think it adds a bit of weight to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson getting Stormont back up and running again.”
by LoveLaughLarne