UUP doubt over devolving justice powers to Stormont
The Ulster Unionist Party has said it is not in a position at this stage to support the devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland.
Leader Sir Reg Empey said members would make a final decision on Monday night, a day before a vote in the Assembly.
The UUP has tabled a document to other parties outlining how the Hillsborough Agreement could be improved.
DUP First Minister Peter Robinson said it would be “a massive mistake” for any politician not to back the deal.
The UUP has been refusing to endorse the Hillsborough Agreement, insisting that a deal on education and other issues is required.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough assembly members to ensure the required cross-community vote gets passed at Stormont on Tuesday.
Earlier on Friday, Mr Robinson told a business community breakfast in Templepatrick it was a good deal and he had “no embarrassment” in asking people to support it.
The DUP leader said it would “ill-serve the people of Northern Ireland” if anyone held back on the decision.
The DUP had been insisting that Ulster Unionist support was essential if the party was going to proceed with the devolution of policing and justice.
That had thrown into question the next stage of the Hillsborough agreement – a cross-community vote in the assembly on Tuesday calling for policing and justice powers to be transferred from Westminster.
However, on Thursday the DUP indicated that UUP support may not be vital.
Mr Robinson seemed to suggest a more critical measure would be the DUP’s own executive meeting on Monday.
TUV leader Jim Allister said that the DUP was preparing a “spectacular somersault” on policing and justice.
“He set the test for community confidence as requiring support from the UUP in the assembly on 9 March,” he said.
“Now, seemingly unable to obtain cover from the UUP he is preparing nonetheless to vote through his disastrous deal with Sinn Fein despite assurances to the contrary to the 14 snowmen and despite knowing that his party only represents a minority of unionist opinion.”
