Statement by TUV vice-chairman Keith Harbinson:

“This morning on the Nolan Show the Chief Constable was reported to have said that all parties now backed his decision to scrap the Full Time Reserve. There was no statement from the PSNI to correct this assertion.

“As I stated yesterday, TUV is resolutely opposed to the removal of the Full Time Reserve. This has always been our position and we made the point very forcibly to Mr Baggott when we met with him a few weeks ago.

“Will the Chief Constable now come out and publically clarify that this is the case?

“Secondly, I noted that on the same programme Lord Morrow stated that the DUP were opposed to the scrapping of the FTR. What he did not make clear was whether or not he supported Jeffrey Donaldson’s position that the retention of the Reserve is a pre-condition for the devolution of policing and justice or Arleen Foster and Peter Robinson’s standpoint who appear quite happy for the powers to be devolved to a terrorist inclusive executive whether or not the Full Time Reserve is retained.

“So what wing of the party is Lord Morrow on? People deserve clarity on this important matter.”