MLAs clash after being urged to ‘stand as one’ on intimidation of politicians

Unionist MLAs have accused rivals of trying to use recent acts of intimidation against Stormont politicians to silence scrutiny in the Assembly.

The claims were made during an at-times-heated debate on events of last week, in which an explosive device was left outside the Newry constituency office of Sinn Fein Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and party colleague, MP Daire Hughes, and when a crowd of protesters, some them masked, gathered outside the home of Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long and her Belfast City councillor husband Michael.

Ahead of the debate, Speaker Edwin Poots had urged MLAs on all sides of the chamber to “stand as one” to condemn the incidences of intimidation against politicians.

While there was universal condemnation during the subsequent exchanges, members clashed over claims that rhetoric within the Assembly may be fuelling hostility towards politicians.

Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson opened the debate with a call for MLAs to “reflect” on the “tone and tenor” of their public commentary.

“The words uttered in this building are not without consequence,” he said.

“And I think all of us must now reflect on the tone and tenor of our contributions to public discourse.”

Sinn Fein MLA Sinead Ennis accused unionist politicians of “dangerous” language.

“There has been language and rhetoric emanating from this chamber in recent weeks that hasn’t helped matters,” she said.

“Week in, week out, we’ve seen a bingo card of dangerous rhetoric from the unionist benches. It’s not enough to stand here and condemn these recent actions, condemnations with a ‘but’ are not condemnations.

“I ask what is the message that some members across this chamber are sending out week in, week out? It is a message of fear and it’s a message message of suspicion.

“People in this chamber have a responsibility to speak factually about the important issues facing our communities, not send out lazy dog whistles, which is what we have seen rising over recent weeks and months.”

DUP MLA Paul Frew said: “Parties should be very careful that they do not exploit this and these atrocious actions for some political point-scoring.

“And even today, when we have the opportunity to unite, we’ve had attack – that is horrific.”

Mr Frew said the Assembly must continue to be a forum for “robust debate”.

“There should be no political party seeking to score political points in order to diminish our role as scrutinisers of this place and of the departments and of the individual ministers. And that is what concerns me here today,” he said.

Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows also voiced concern.

“I’m afraid to say democracy is under two attacks today, the attack from those who are mobs outside, and the attacks from those who are in here, who want to silence accountability and scrutiny and who want to link the actions of a mob with the legitimate voice of people in this chamber,” he said.

“It is, in my view, shameful. The answer whenever democracy is attacked is more democracy, more scrutiny, more accountability.”

Mr Burrows also criticised a post on X by Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, in which she accused him of a “feigned attempt” to show concern for Mr and Mrs Long.

“It went against every fibre in my body to be accused of somehow feigning,” he said.

At the close of the debate, Mr Poots urged all MLAs to reflect on the issues discussed.

“We need to ensure that these things don’t happen on our constituency offices and our homes are safe places,” he said.

“We also need to ensure that we are able to engage in a full way in this chamber, so that people outside don’t feel the need to vent in some way.

“And I don’t believe there is any justification for people to engage in what they’ve done last week, because we have a place like this, and our local council chambers, and Westminster and so forth, where people are able to go and express issues on behalf of the public that elected them, and that’s where those things should happen.”