SDLP Senior Negotiator Sean Farren MLA has
called on the Secretary of State to make clear that the days of side deals
being negotiated with officials in Downing Street’s back parlours are over for
good. Speaking after today’s Preparation for Government Committee, Dr Farren
stated:
“The DUP were at their blocking best at
today’s Preparation for Government Committee.
They quibbled, queried, stalled and stopped negotiations. They didn’t
want the Preparation for Government Committee to set up an economic group for
the most obscure and pedantic procedural reasons. He needs to tell the DUP upfront that they
have to negotiate directly with other parties.
He needs to tell them that the days of negotiations with officials in
Downing Street’s back parlours are done.
He needs to tell them that they will only get what they can agree with
others, not what they can milk from the Government.