The Alliance Party's deputy leader has strongly criticised Lord Alderdice for resigning as party leader to take up the position of temporary speaker of the new Northern Assembly. Mr Seamus Close said yesterday that Lord Alderdice had put his own interests before those of the party.
Lord Alderdice resigned his position on Monday evening, hours before the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, appointed him as speaker or "presiding officer" of the Assembly. He will need the backing of Assembly members if he is to keep the job.
In announcing his decision, Lord Alderdice said he was resigning because of the party's poor performance in the Assembly election, when it won only six seats. This is not enough to gain a position on the executive. Mr Close said yesterday he "knew for a fact" that Lord Alderdice had been in discussions with the Northern Ireland Office about the post before his resignation. "It hurts me to say it, but I think it has to be said . . . I can only come to one conclusion, that he stood down for self-interest, rather than party interest," Mr Close said on BBC radio.
He continued: "I don't think it is any coincidence that hot on the heels of the resignation was the appointment as speaker." Mr Close said he was very "disappointed" by Lord Alderdice's decision, but also admitted he had been interested in the job of speaker. "From my own point of view, having been possibly in the running for that same position, I feel that in many respects I may have been blocked by my party leader," he said. Lord Alderdice chose not to respond to Mr Close's remarks yesterday. Mr Close is favourite to take over as party leader, but he refused to say whether he would put his name forward. He did not expect the new leader to be elected until September. The Assembly will meet today at 2 p.m. at Castle Buildings in Stormont, the venue of the multiparty talks. A room has been specially prepared to serve as a temporary chamber for the 108member Assembly. After today's session, the Assembly is expected to adjourn until mid-September.
Today's agenda includes the election of a presiding officer and a deputy, and the election of a First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Lord Alderdice will preside over today's session and is expected to be formally elected to the position. However the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, may try to disrupt proceedings, as he has said he wants a debate on the rerouting of the Drumcree Orange parade before any other business is dealt with.
Under the rules of the Assembly, the Northern Secretary has set the agenda for today's meeting and she would have to agree to allow a debate on Drumcree. Dr Paisley said yesterday however, that "everything in politics is possible".
He continued: "I would not rule out that there would be a very strong protest in the Assembly. What way that protest would take place, I am not prepared to say at the moment. If it is the mind of the majority of all unionists that that should happen, then it can happen. And if the Assembly went on, without their presence, that would show that they have little respect for the wishes of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland."
The DUP leader said the world media would be watching the Assembly and he wanted to tell the truth about the Orange parade. "The lies need to be nailed and the world should know the truth about the matter," he said.
The Women's Coalition has said it will propose a panel of presiding officers, with one drawn from each party, rather than simply electing a speaker and a deputy.
The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions urged Assembly members to begin to address the social and economic issues facing the people of the North as a matter of urgency.
The Methodist Church in Ireland urged members to show respect and sensitivity to those from different traditions.