UUP and TUV leaders say Sinn Fein’s quest for a united Ireland will fail after Mary Lou MacDonald told an Easter parade in West Belfast that she was seeking a “partnership” with unionists to help achieve the party’s ultimate goal. you are.
The Sinn Féin leader said on Sunday that trade unionists should have an “equal role” in building what she described as a new Ireland.
Meanwhile, the party’s northern leader, Michel O’Neill, said Sinn Fein wanted to lead the governments of Northern Ireland and the republic.
Both Mrs. MacDonald and Mrs. O’Neill spoke during Easter remembrance to mark the 106th anniversary of the 1916 uprising.
Responding to Ms. McDonald’s remarks at Milltown Cemetery, TUV leader Jim Alistair said she “should accept the unions as fools” and described a united Ireland as a “hopeless search”.
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beatty said Sinn Fein’s goal of a united Ireland “is failing and will continue to fail” as they “sanitize” their support for the IRA during the Troubles.
“So while they are trying to contact the trade unions, I offer them a radical idea,” Mr Beatty said. “Condemn terrorism, condemn the murders of our citizens, condemn those who hid in the shadows to kill men, women and children.
“From this basic position of humanity, we can work to help the people of Northern Ireland cope with the cost of living crisis.
Addressing the large crowd gathered in Milltown Cemetery, Ms MacDonald called on unionists to “take this journey with us” to a united Ireland.
“The future of equality and freedom belongs to you,” she said. “A future of progress and change belongs to you. A future of prosperity and opportunity belongs to you.
“It is not for anyone to invite you, this future is already yours. It is for you, it is for you, it is for you.
“The British government, after the British government, does not respect you and fails again and again.
“Instead, imagine the liberating opportunity for complete freedom to make all decisions here, in a parliament here, for the people who live here.
Ms MacDonald added that if Sinn Fein became the largest party after the May parliamentary elections, Ms O’Neill would be nominated for prime minister.
Addressing the upcoming election, Ms. O’Neill told those in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone, that it was “for the future, the next generation and what people, regardless of background or tradition, can achieve” if they work together. .
She said that after May 5, her party was committed to activating the assembly and the executive branch “without delay”.
“We want to lead not only in the executive branch, but throughout Ireland,” Ms O’Neill told the crowd. “We are determined to run a government in Dublin in the future.
“We want to unite our people and our country and with the support of the citizens, we will do that.
Today we gather to remember those who dedicated their lives to Irish freedom
We need to look beyond the division of our island and seize the opportunities that lie ahead to build a new and united Ireland
Now is the time to build a new Ireland that guarantees equality and prosperity for all pic.twitter.com/T0jCoWLvt8
– Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) April 17, 2022
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