Mandelson slams Tories for 'playing politics' in North

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson today accused the Tories of jeopardising the North's peace process for the sake of party political advantage.

His attack follows the disclosure that shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson convened secret talks between the DUP and the UUP – at the country estate of the Marquis of Salisbury.

The move has prompted speculation that the Tories are attempting to establish a pan-unionist front to restrict the number of seats Sinn Féin and the SDLP can win in the general election.

The Conservatives already have an agreement with the Ulster Unionists to field joint candidates in the North's 18 parliamentary seats.

With the opinion polls pointing to the possibility of a hung parliament at the forthcoming general election, David Cameron could find himself looking for support from unionist MPs in order to form a government.

In an interview with the BBC1 Politics Show, Peter Mandelson – himself a former Northern Ireland Secretary – accused the Conservatives of trying to exploit the situation in the North for their own ends.

“They’re playing politics in Northern Ireland. They’re seeking advantage for the Conservative party in Northern Ireland at the expense of the peace process and the devolved government. It’s very irresponsible and I suggest that they desist,” he said.

“They are going to undermine the cohesion amongst unionists and thus undermine their confidence in making some pretty tough decisions about where the peace process goes from here.

“So I think they need to stand back, not seek party advantage and instead support the peace process.”

Mr Cameron however rejected suggestions that a Conservative government would be unable to treat the North's political parties in an even-handed way.

He compared the Tories’ relationship with the unionists to the close relationship that Labour had with the SDLP.

“If you’re making accusations that I can’t be even-handed, you’d have to make the same accusation against the Prime Minister that he can’t be even-handed,” he told the Politics Show.

“The question I ask myself is, is the Conservative party playing a constructive role in encouraging, particularly the Unionist parties, the ones we have frankly the closer relationship with in the House of Commons, are we playing a constructive role in encouraging that devolution to take place? Yes we are. That’s a good thing.”