SF claims DUP changing tune

The balance of power could be shifting in the Reverend Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists, a senior Sinn Féin figure observed today.

Foyle Assembly candidate Mitchel McLaughlin noted how senior DUP figures appeared to be preparing their voters for negotiations which would also involve Sinn Féin.

The Sinn Fein national chairman told PA News: “We have been watching the comments of people like Peter Robinson and Gregory Campbell, two of the DUP’s leadership.

“They seem to be preparing their constituency for a move into mandated negotiations and they seem to be asking voters for a qualitatively different mandate.

“There seems to be a recognition that those negotiations are going to involve Sinn Féin. It is possible that, in the heat of the election, that subtle shift is being lost on people.”

Mr McLaughlin said the DUP appeared to be anxious to keep their leader the Reverend Ian Paisley out of the media spotlight, even if they did keep him in the public spotlight on the campaign trail.

“It looks like the party has decided that they are going to keep the Big Man (Paisley) out of the media eye as much as possible,” he said.

“That could almost be a by-product of his age.

“There certainly seems to be a shift in the balance of power within the DUP as can be seen in several of the speeches and statements that their leadership have been making.”

Mr McLaughlin said the Good Friday Agreement remained the only game in town in Northern Ireland.

“Either the DUP are deluding themselves about that or they are engaging in fancy footwork,” he said.

Former Stormont health minister Bairbre de Brun was today due to join two Sinn Féin Assembly candidates in North Belfast, Gerry Kelly and Kathy Stanton, in a tour of the constituency.

The SDLP was organising an event for its women candidates, hosted by the deputy leader Bríd Rodgers, and involving politicians from the south of the Irish border.