TUV and DUP clash as Speaker row flares
The DUP and TUV have traded new blows over the election of Sinn Fein’s Francie Molloy as the next Assembly Speaker.
Despite the Assembly recess, the rival unionist parties continued to attack each other after the elevation of Mr Molloy to become Principal Deputy Speaker was achieved with DUP support.
The DUP Upper Bann MP David Simpson used Parliamentary privilege to name the Sinn Fein MLA in connection with the murder of RUC reservist Eric Lutton in 1979.
South Antrim MP Rev William McCrea also said Mr Molloy should be arrested for “war crimes” against the UK people.
“Despite this, the DUP lobby fodder in the Assembly voted in favour of this dirty backroom deal,” TUV leader Jim Allister said.
But the DUP hit back, saying while the TUV wanted to fight “yesterday’s battles”, it was looking forward.
Mr Molloy, who will take over from Speaker William Hay, has dismissed the claims as “nonsense” and challenged Mr Simpson to repeat them outside Parliament.
