A new war of words between the North’s Minister and Deputy First Minister has escalated with Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness accusing DUP leader Peter Robsinon of “crossing the line” on claims a deal was struck on welfare cuts.
Speaking today Mr McGuinness said: “We are the only party standing up for the poor and the vulnerable from all communities on the issue of welfare cuts.
“I raised the issue of welfare cuts once at 10 Downing Street with the British Prime Minister and twice with the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the Cabinet Office.
“Peter Robinson never offered one word of support for a rethink on welfare cuts and the only support I received was from my Scottish colleagues.
“When Peter Robinson talks about a failure to deliver, we should remind ourselves that Peter Robinson has failed to deliver on the Education and Skills Authority and the Maze/Long Kesh Peace Project.
“Both of these were Programme for Government commitments signed up to by Peter Robinson and his party.
“Peter Robinson also failed to stand united in government with me in condemnation of UVF-orchestrated violence particularly in Belfast. He has failed to deliver on the Haass proposals on flags, parades and the past.
“He and his party are oblivious to the £30m policing bill for the protest at Twaddell Avenue in North Belfast and now they want to hand back powers on welfare.
“The only way to resolve these issues is by mature leadership, sitting down with Executive colleagues and finding a resolution rather than grandstanding on the media and presuming to speak for me.”