Statement by TUV Lagan Valley Westminster candidate Keith Harbinson:
 
“No one having objectively examined Stormont’s performance to date would even contemplate rewarding this dysfunctional government with more powers over anything, never mind the seminal issue of policing and justice.
 
“Let’s just recall what Alliance leader David Ford said in response to speculation his party would take the Justice post in August 2008:
 
"The Alliance Party will not be taking the Policing and Justice Ministry. This Executive is failing in its duties, so Northern Ireland needs a strong and coherent opposition. We are providing that opposition and we will continue to do so.
 
"The Executive is in crisis over planning, the environment, the 11-plus, Irish language, and the multi-sports stadium issue. Do the Executive parties expect us to take the Environment, Education and Culture Ministries to save their bacon on these matters?
 
"The Executive has not met since mid-June. It is in a crisis of its own making. It is up to the Executive parties to resolve this crisis as they are the government. They must start by actually meeting again as an Executive to discuss the outstanding issues. We are the opposition and we will remain so because this Executive is so poor that Northern Ireland needs a strong group to keep the pressure on it."

“What has changed David? Does the Executive no longer need “a strong and coherent opposition”, something which you claimed Alliance provided? Has the 11-plus been resolved? Are there no outstanding issues relating to the Maze stadium and associated terror shrine? Isn’t it the case that just as they did two years ago, Sinn Fein/IRA have manufactured a crisis to force the issue of policing and justice?
 
“The simple fact is that the Alliance Party have zero credibility on this issue and are prepared to do anything in order to obtain a ministerial post.”