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Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has accused Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of preventing her from attending a National Economic Council summit in Glasgow. The event, scheduled for Friday, was set to include Prime Minister Andy Burnham alongside leaders from Scotland and Wales.
Dispute over protest involvement
The decision to block the attendance follows significant unionist criticism regarding Sinn Féin’s role in protests that successfully blocked a contentious Orange Order march in Portadown. The march was intended to pass through the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road area. O’Neill, the Sinn Féin vice-president, has defended her participation in these demonstrations, stating it was the “right thing to do.”
O’Neill publicly criticized the DUP’s move, labeling it “reckless and irresponsible.” In a statement posted online, she argued that the decision ensures the people of Northern Ireland “will not be represented” at the summit. She further characterized the action as a “reactive stunt” stemming from the DUP’s internal pressures and electoral difficulties.
DUP response and internal pressure
Emma Little-Pengelly defended the decision, stating that the “anger and hurt” felt by many across Northern Ireland due to O’Neill’s conduct could not be ignored. She noted that she had also halted a planned engagement with Irish President Catherine Connolly. Little-Pengelly added that she has requested a separate meeting with the Prime Minister to ensure Northern Ireland’s interests, particularly regarding budgetary and funding challenges, are still addressed.
The DUP has faced mounting pressure from within its own ranks and rival unionist parties to take a harder stance against O’Neill. Last week, DUP MP Carla Lockhart resigned from the party’s officer board, expressing frustration that leader Gavin Robinson had not forced O’Neill out of their joint Stormont office. Other party members, including Diane Forsythe and Maurice Bradley, have since publicly supported calls for O’Neill to be removed from office.
Broader political fallout
Maurice Bradley stated that the “arrogance and defiance” shown by Sinn Féin following the Portadown dispute was concerning. He emphasized that no individual is above the law, regardless of their political standing. Meanwhile, DUP leader Gavin Robinson previously stated that the party had reached a democratic decision on the matter, questioning the necessity of punishing the entire region to address the actions of specific individuals.
Other political figures have criticized the DUP’s approach. Alliance leader Naomi Long described the refusal to attend or allow others to attend the summit as reckless, arguing that it prioritizes party interests over the region’s economic future. Similarly, Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows stated that the DUP’s decision “punishes Northern Ireland, not Michelle O’Neill.”
As the situation develops, sources told the BBC’s Nolan Live programme that DUP officers were expected to meet to consider whether to withdraw the deputy first minister or end official engagements with O’Neill. Police are currently investigating the unnotified demonstrations in Portadown, with senior Sinn Féin figures having already been interviewed by authorities.
