By Basant El-Faramawy
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Gavin Robinson, has said he hopes MP Carla Lockhart will not leave the party as a row deepens over First Minister Michelle O'Neill's position.
Lockhart calls for O'Neill's removal
Lockhart has urged the DUP to force O'Neill from office by having Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly resign. On Thursday the party confirmed Little-Pengelly will not take part in joint engagements with O'Neill and will not grant permission for the first minister to operate alone.
Party unity tested
Robinson said the decision among DUP members of the legislative assembly to cease engagement with the first minister and deputy first minister was unanimous. Lockhart, who stepped down from the party's officer board last week, is reported to be preparing to resign from the party altogether.
National Economic Council absence
The DUP blocked O'Neill from attending a meeting of the National Economic Council that was due to include the prime minister and devolved leaders. Robinson described the move as a consequence of O'Neill "stepping outside her pledge of office" and insisted the party would not take steps that punish the people of Northern Ireland.
Opposition criticism
Sinn Féin's Chris Hazard called the DUP's action a "petulant stunt" that harms businesses and public services. Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl said Northern Ireland's absence from the economic forum was "so disappointing." Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister accused the DUP of clinging to office, while Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows labelled the move a "political fudge." SDLP's Matthew O'Toole warned that further political chaos is not a sensible strategy for unionism.
