Stormont to debate McGuinness motion

The Northern Assembly is to debate a DUP motion of no confidence in the Minister for Education Martin McGuinness today following his statement to the Bloody Sunday tribunal.

Mr McGuinness said he was the IRA’s second in command on the day, prompting the DUP to table the motion, which for procedural issues has no chance of success.

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement both Sinn Fein and the SDLP have given notice that that the DUP motion requires cross community consensus, something it has little chance of doing.

Given the resolution is doomed to fail observers believe the real motive is to embarrass the UUP and its leader David Trimble in the run into the election.

The UUP are expected to support the no confidence motion leaving them wide open to ridicule for not supporting a minister who they sit with in cabinet.