Robinson 'airbrushed' coalition failings - Empey

ULSTER Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey has accused Peter Robinson of airbrush out the

failings of DUP-Sinn Fein partnership government.

The First Minister gave a New Year interview in which he claimed the uneasy coalition with republicans had "defied critics"

and was delivering stability, but Sir Reg claimed the DUP leader was looking through rose-tinted glasses.

"It seems quite cADVERTISEMENT lear that Peter Robinson has been given an air compressor

for Christmas and has been using it in an effort to remove all trace of the difficulties that have hung over the Executive

committee since he became First Minister," said the UUP chief.

"He says that this Executive has 'stability' and that there is a 'much more mature handling' of difficult situations. Well,

if he thinks that the inability of the Executive to meet for almost half of 2008 represented stability then he has a very

peculiar understanding of airbrush tattoo stability."

Sir Reg claimed the joint DUP-SF statement on policing and justice to end the stalemate had "turned out to be nothing more

than confirmation that republicans had got most of what they wanted and that Gordon Brown would be rolling out the necessary

legislation 'in a matter of months."

The Secretary of State's Christmas message had confirmed it, he said.

"Meanwhile, thousands of P6 pupils and tens of thousands of parents and teachers have no idea how the transfer from primary

to post-primary will go ahead.

"More and more grammar schools have said that they will be opting out and introducing their own tests. In other words, the

'professional and business relationship' which Mr. Robinson boasts of has meant that the stress of the 11-plus has been

replaced with the multiple stress of two and possibly even three new tests for the pupils."

He argued: "Whatever Mr Robinson may say, the reality airbrush make

up is that the relationship between the DUP and Sinn Fein is based on self-interest and carve-up rather than a genuine

sharing of power for the benefit of Northern Ireland.

"What we have, in effect, is a coalition of the 'ourselves alone' parties, based on the principle of sustaining the divisions

and building newer and higher walls. It will work flawlessly as long as Peter gives Martin what he wants. Where did a battle

a day go to?"

Noting that Mr Robinson had also criticised the UUP's pact with the Conservatives, Sir Reg said: "I'm surprised that yet

another DUP association, this time in North Antrim, is inviting a leading Conservative as their guest speaker in the next few

weeks following their colleagues in East Antrim in October."