Unionist politicians ‘routinely' excuse racism - McGuinness

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has claimed Unionists politicians “routinely excuse and defend” racism, sectarianism and homophobia.

Speaking during his keynote speech on the second and final day of Sinn Féin’s think-in Mr McGuinness said not one Unionist politician had acknowledged his engagement with Queen Elizabeth, while many people from the Unionist and Protestant communities had approached him to say it was a good thing to do.

He said Unionism was moving to the right politically and a section of political unionism wanted “to turn the clock back”. This was “nothing short of delusional”.

“Unionist politicians routinely excuse and it has to be said they defend racism, sectarianism and homophobia. Racism, sectarianism and homophobia are totally and wholly unacceptable,” Mr McGuinness said.

Mr McGuinness also used the speech to respond to First Minister Peter Robinson’s description of the Northern Executive as “no longer fit for purpose” earlier this week.

Mr Robinson wrote in the Belfast Telegraph on Tuesday that the impasse between the DUP and Sinn Féin over welfare reform could bring down the Executive and the Assembly.

Today Mr McGuinness challenged the DUP to bring welfare legislation to the floor of the Assembly and let MLAs debate the issue.

“If anyone is not fit for purpose it’s those people within the institutions who are not prepared to stand by even the very institutions they negotiated,” he said.

“The DUP claim that the institutions are not fit for purpose. Well I believe the institutions are fit for purpose. I do believe that the responsibility to work those institutions in a positive and constructive spirit rests with all the politicians in the Assembly and in the Executive.

“So I’ll let the people judge which politicians are fit for purpose and which politicians aren’t.”

The DUP had refused to accept the determinations of the Parades Commission, he said.

Mr McGuinness said the British Government had become a “big, big part of the problem”.

There had been a sustained attack on the very concept of the welfare State since the Conservatives had taken power, he said.

He said “Tory millionaires in Government in London” took no account of the unique situation of Northern Ireland, where the cuts they wanted implemented would represent a “hammer blow”.

“It’s a right wing conservative agenda. It’s a policy designed by millionaires in London who know nothing about surviving on a low income.”

He said the politicians in the Assembly who supported these cut also knew nothing about surviving on a low income.

Mr McGuinness said a general election in Britain might fundamentally change the British government’s approach to the welfare state.

The Scottish referendum, “whatever its outcome” would change fundamentally the welfare and fiscal agenda.