The DUP has accused the British government of ignoring its electoral mandate by failing to show the party its policing implementation plan. A meeting at which the DUP expected to see the document, scheduled for 4 p.m. yesterday, was postponed by the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid.
DUP MP Mr Gregory Campbell said it was undemocratic that the IRA and pro-agreement parties had been given access to the document ahead of the DUP. "Sooner or later the Secretary of State is going to have to come to terms with the fact that he will have to meet with the majority of the unionist community, whom we represent."
He said his party had information that the IRA's army council had viewed the document at a meeting in the Republic last weekend. "If not only a terrorist organisation but all the other democratic political parties which are in support of the agreement get to see the document and discuss it and come to a conclusion in terms of its acceptability or otherwise, why couldn't the public representatives of the majority of unionists not see the same document?"
He said government officials had cancelled the meeting, which was arranged last week and confirmed on Monday, because they knew the DUP would insist on seeing the policing proposals.