Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC:-
 
"Having relentlessly abused the Ulster Unionist Party for decades, the DUP now wants to cynically use them as a figleaf for its shotgun policing & justice deal with Sinn Fein. It will be a test of the UUP's strength of character as to whether they fall for such obvious exploitation.  If Sir Reg Empey is fooled by the blarney of a desperate DUP then he will, I suspect, live to regret it when a rescued DUP reverts to form.

“It is clear that unprecedented efforts will be made to spin and sell a surrender to Sinn Fein’s strategic demand of ending British control of policing and justice as a Unionist victory. There is nothing good about letting IRA/Sinn Fein within a devolutionary mile of policing and justice. Nonetheless, the great and the good will all be wheeled out as salesmen and spin merchants. Church leaders, civic leaders, business leaders, ‘community leaders’ – they will all be called upon and used.

“I would caution the Loyal Orders against being hoodwinked into thinking that a dodgy deal on parading, which gives the Joint First Ministers a key role in appointing arbitrators, will in any way improve the attainment of their parading rights. Thus the Orders should also guard against being exploited and used.”