DUP members call for Michelle O'Neill's removal as First Minister

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 27 Oct, 09:32 · Archive

Two DUP figures are urging their party to withdraw from the Stormont Executive in order to remove Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill as First Minister.

Two DUP members have publicly called for the removal of Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill as First Minister of Northern Ireland. Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart and South Down MLA Diane Forsythe are urging their party to withdraw deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Stormont Executive, a move that would automatically force O'Neill from office due to the joint nature of the powersharing arrangement.

The action would effectively collapse the devolved administration, though other departmental ministers would remain in post and the Assembly could continue to sit for a further six months. Lockhart and Forsythe object to O'Neill's participation in an allegedly unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last month, staged to prevent an Orange Order parade proceeding down the predominantly nationalist road.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said the party reached an 'agreed position' not to withdraw Little-Pengelly, arguing that collapsing the Executive would damage unionism. Lockhart resigned as a DUP party officer last week over the disagreement. Forsythe wrote on social media that 'the overwhelming majority of Unionist people believe Michelle O'Neill should not be First Minister' and stated her view that O'Neill should be removed.

How it is being reported

• DUP's Diane Forsythe backs MP's call for Michelle O'Neill to be 'removed from office' - and for Emma Little Pengelly to block official engagementsMichelle O’Neill should be removed from office and failing that official engagements as First Minister should be “stopped immediately” by Emma Little Pengelly, a DUP MLA has said.News Letter · 27 Oct, 10:53
• DUP MLA joins calls for removal of Michelle O’Neill as Stormont First MinisterDiane Forsythe has aligned with DUP MP Carla Lockhart in urging her party to oust Ms O’Neill from office.News Letter · 27 Oct, 09:47
• DUP MLA joins calls for removal of Michelle O’Neill as First MinisterDiane Forsythe has joined Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart in urging her party to withdraw deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Stormont ExecutiveBelfast Live · 27 Oct, 09:01
• DUP MLA joins calls for removal of Michelle O’Neill as Stormont First MinisterBelfast Telegraph · 27 Oct, 08:24

In this story: Michelle O'Neill · Diane Forsythe · Carla Lockhart · Emma Little-Pengelly · Gavin Robinson · DUP · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland

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