McCartney objects to parties' ability to change their political designations

Assembly members must not be allowed "play see-saw, Margery Daw" by changing their political designations to meet particular political exigencies, the UK Unionist leader, Mr Robert McCartney, told the Assembly.

He made his comment after the Women's Coalition leader, Ms Monica McWilliams, said her party would do all in its power to protect the Belfast Agreement, even if that meant changing the party's designation to unionist or nationalist.

Under the terms of the agreement, political parties must be designated as unionist, nationalist or "other". However, with seven days' notice, they can change their designation.

Ms McWilliams, conscious of the political arithmetic of the Assembly, said the party would avail of this facility if it felt it necessary to safeguard the Belfast Agreement.

This could prove crucial should any members of the pro-agreement Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), which between them have 30 members, defect to anti-agreement unionist parties, which in total have 28 members.

As there must be parallel nationalist and unionist support for important motions, the pro-agreement unionist side could need the votes of the Women's Coalition to make up the numbers.

Mr McCartney, during discussion of the Assembly's interim standing orders, said the change-of-designation ruling should be deleted because it gave "licence to political chameleons who wish to change their colour according to the exigencies of the day".

The ruling gave a disproportionate degree of power to the Women's Coalition, which has two members.

"They should not be allowed play see-saw Margery Daw in crucial votes by changing their designation from nationalist to unionist," said Mr McCartney.

Other unionist members also focused on the ruling, and called for its deletion. The DUP secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds, said parties switching their declared allegiance "would bring this house into disrepute".

"We should delete this offensive mechanism. I hope everybody sees this as a matter of principle. If a party is designated as unionist or nationalist that is the way it should remain," said Mr Dodds.

Mr Sammy Wilson (DUP) said the Women's Coalition should not have the power to "dance about" from one designation to another.

"A small group should not have the ability to manipulate the Assembly in this particular way," he added.

Mr Seamus Close, the deputy leader of Alliance, whose party is in the "other" category, said it was understandable that a politician could at some stage change his or her allegiance.

But it was wrong that parties could change their designation "every seven days". He objected to the term "other", and believed that Alliance should be allowed to be termed as a "centre" party.

Ms Jane Morrice of the Women's Coalition said the party would employ the mechanism only to protect the Belfast Agreement. "We were put here to defend the agreement, and we will do that," she added.

The Assembly's committee on standing orders was delegated to devise a completed set of standing orders by October 6th.

The Assembly also yesterday unanimously passed a motion to establish a "shadow" commission to assist in making preparations for the effective functioning of the Assembly until power is devolved from Westminster.

The commission will be in charge of matters relevant to providing the Assembly with the necessary location, staff and services. Five members of the Assembly, Mr Peter Robinson (DUP), the Rev Robert Coulter (UUP), Mr John Fee (SDLP), Mr Francie Molloy (SF) and Mrs Eileen Bell (Alliance) will sit on the committee along with the Presiding Officer of the Assembly, Lord Alderdice.