FORMER First Minister Arlene Foster has maintained that another way forward is needed than ‘bullying and blackmail’ tactics by the UK Government.
Speaking in the House of Lords, the ex-DUP leader was referring to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris who has offered Northern Ireland parties a £3.3 billion deal to stabilise finances in the region, including £600 million to settle outstanding public sector pay claims.
But the offer is conditional on the return of powersharing at Stormont and the DUP is maintaining its refusal to participate in devolved government until its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements are tackled by the UK Government.
It was a situation that caused Baroness Foster, pictured below, to warn at Westminster that public service workers were being used as “pawns in a game of political brinkmanship”.
Speaking during an urgent question secured in the Lords on the industrial action, she made her feelings clear.
“It is said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” Lady Foster said.
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