LOCAL MP Gregory Campbell has defended power-sharing at Stormont stating now is the first time in generations Unionism can claim confidently "what we have we hold!"
The East Londonderry parliamentarian made the comments following a DUP reshuffle at Stormont that saw him stand down as Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
In a clear jibe towards the anti-power-sharing Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), Mr Campbe
ll accused Jim Allister's party of "twisted logic" in arguing unionism would be best served by a split vote.
Mr Campbell said: "The DUP has four ministerial positions and Unionism as a whole has a majority in the Stormont Executive. Unionism's place at the Executive table has ensured we are in control of our destiny, yet some Unionists have said that they want to end that situation.
"Our objective is to ensure that Sinn Féin's ambitions are as much thwarted here in Northern Ireland as they have been in the Republic. It takes a very twisted sort of logic to argue as some do that Unionism would be best served by putting nationalism in the majority in the Northern Ireland Executive.
"We will continue strengthening unionism and through that process Northern Ireland. While we obviously live in a very radically changed environment since the old NI Parliament, unionism has control over its future and can stop those decisions which are damaging to unionism.
"For the first time in generations we can say with truth - what we have we hold! Yet there are those who for their own embittered reasons want to throw it all away."
In response TUV chairman Ivor McConnell said: "The fact that Unionists hold a majority of seats round the Executive table is totally irrelevant.
"Sinn Féin/IRA have an absolute veto on every issue. The DUP have replaced a government where Republicans had total control over the departments they headed with one which gives them a veto over what goes on in all departments.
"That was why the Executive was unable to meet for five months until the DUP rolled over to Sinn Féin/IRA on the issue of policing and justice.
"Unionists, as Mr Campbell well knows, are not in control of their own destiny. Peter Robinson cannot blow his nose politically without Martin McGuinness's agreement. And it's about time we had a wee bit of honesty from the DUP on that issue.
"TUV does not exist to give Nationalists a majority in a terrorist inclusive executive."
