Back to the polls as Stormont implodes

Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

At the start of Assembly business on Monday, Sinn Fein refused to replace Martin McGuinness as deputy First Minister, a week after he quit citing irreconcilable differences with his Democratic Unionist partners in government, namely party leader Arlene Foster.
His resignation was precipitated by the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scandal - a botched eco-scheme set to cost Stormont £490 million - but that row has also reignited a range of other bitter disputes dividing the coalition.
Sinn Fein MLA Michelle O’Neill told the Assembly: “The DUP have treated these institutions and sections of the community with contempt and arrogance.”

Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire. 

Mr. McGuinness’s resignation automatically removed DUP leader Arlene Foster from her position as first minister, as executive structures dictate one cannot govern without the other.
Theresa May phoned Mrs. Foster and Mr. McGuinness early on Monday in a last-ditch effort to prevent the collapse of the devolved administration. But it was too late.
At 5pm Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire announced a snap election in response to the collapse of Stormont’s ruling executive. 
Mrs. Foster, who developed the ill-fated RHI scheme when economy minister, claimed the electorate did not want or need an election and accused Sinn Fein of triggering it because they did not like the outcome of last May’s vote.
But when Sinn Fein’s claim that she collapsed Stormont was put to her she told this newspaper: “Well it’s not my fault.”
Sinn Fein is calling for change but Mrs. Foster has predicted tough negotiations post-election.
“If Sinn Fein think we are simply going to roll over after an election when we didn’t allow them to, for example rewrite the past before the election, we are certainly not going to do it after the election.

Photo: Sinn Fein. 

“We all remember what Gerry Adams said about equality in Fermanagh,” said Mrs. Foster, referring to when the Sinn Fein President used the phrase ‘break these ba****ds’ during a meeting in Enniskillen. He also used a ‘Trojan horse’ analogy when referring to Sinn Fein’s equality strategy. 
“This is equality on Sinn Fein’s terms... he uses the term equality as a weapon as a way of breaking unionists. What way is that to talk about equality? It’s hardly the equality of Martin Luther King, is it? I don’t think so.”
Mrs. Foster and Maurice Morrow will contest the election together. 
Sinn Fein, meanwhile, announced its candidates this week: Michelle Gildernew and Sean Lynch, two sitting MLAs, and Belleek activist Jemma Dolan. 
“I believe wholeheartedly in Sinn Fein’s quest for equality and that it must be at the core of any political institution and whether I am an activist or elected rep, I will strive to achieve this,” said Miss. Dolan.
“We will not be returning to these institutions unless the cornerstones of the Good Friday Agreement - equality and respect for people and respect for their rights are recognised and adhered to,” said Ms. Gildernew.
Mr. Lynch said the election “will be a defining moment in our struggle” hitting out at what he said was “DUP arrogance, disrespect for our identity and culture.”

Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire. 

The SDLP is expected to endorse Richie McPhillips, who this week called for a public inquiry into the RHI debacle, as its candidate. The current Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLA watched this week as his party leader Colum Eastwood reacted to the chaotic events at Stormont. “The public will have an opportunity to cast their judgement on what parties have done and how they plan to deal with this scandal. Those resisting full disclosure and the highest standards of accountability should explain themselves to the electorate,” he said. 
This weekend the Ulster Unionist Party will choose if Rosemary Barton will fight to retain the seat she won just last May, or someone else.
Flanked by Mrs. Barton and other MLAs, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt told reporters that an enraged electorate could deliver another Brexit moment and radically reshape the political landscape in the looming snap poll.

Photo: David Young/PA Wire. 

Mr. Nesbitt said the likely election would be seen as a referendum on the Democratic Unionist/Sinn Fein-led Stormont executive’s handling of the botched renewable energy scandal.
Since going into Opposition, Mr. Nesbitt and Mr. Eastwood have portrayed themselves as an alternative partnership to lead Northern Ireland. However, Mr. Nesbitt has insisted his party would not campaign on a joint ticket with the SDLP.
Both the Traditional Unionist Voice and the Alliance Party have told this newspaper that they will be contesting the election in Fermanagh-south Tyrone and that details of candidates will follow soon.
Labour Party Northern Ireland’s Donal O’Cofaigh will also stand in the election, the socialist and former Sinn Fein councillor’s third attempt at getting elected.
The devolution meltdown has cast a shadow of uncertainty over a series of big ticket Stormont executive plans.