Kimmins says O'Neill is staying as DUP's Lockhart and Forsythe call for removal over Drumcree
Sinn Féin's Liz Kimmins said First Minister Michelle O'Neill is "going nowhere" after DUP MP Carla Lockhart demanded O'Neill's removal over the Drumcree dispute. DUP MLA Diane Forsythe later backed Lockhart, while DUP leader Gavin Robinson has kept all options open.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said on Monday 26 October that First Minister Michelle O'Neill is "going nowhere", after DUP MP Carla Lockhart again called for O'Neill to go. Evening StandardN “First Minister Michelle O’Neill is “going nowhere”, Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has said.”“She was speaking after DUP MP Carla Lockhart again called for Ms O’Neill to go following the Drumcree dispute.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Kimmins told media in Belfast that "the people decided who the First Minister of the north is" and that "democracy is who elects the First Minister". Evening StandardN ““The people decided who the First Minister of the north is and that’s the way that will remain,” she said.”“democracy is who elects the First Minister. Michelle O’Neill is going absolutely nowhere.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The row stems from the Drumcree dispute: a Parades Commission determination allowed an Orange Order parade along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, County Armagh, for the first time in almost 30 years, and large-scale protests effectively stopped it completing its traditional route. Evening StandardN “The move sparked fury among nationalist residents of the road after the route got the green light for the first time in almost 30 years”“Large-scale protests on the Garvaghy Road effectively prevented the Orange Order parade from being able to complete its traditional route.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1Police investigating potential breaches of the Parades Commission determination have questioned O'Neill, Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald, other senior party members and People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll; Kimmins confirmed receiving a police letter inviting an interview, would not say when it will take place, and said they will co-operate with the PSNI as required. Evening StandardN “was questioned by police probing potential breaches of a Parades Commission determination to allow an Orange Order parade along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.”“She declined to say when she will attend that interview but added she will co-operate with the PSNI as required.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1On Saturday night, thousands lined the streets of Portadown in support of the Orange men, where Lockhart told the crowd "profound consequences must mean profound consequences. Michelle O'Neill must go"; the crowd responded with boos and chants of "the first minister has to go". Evening StandardN “Local MP Ms Lockhart addressed the crowd, telling them “profound consequences must mean profound consequences. Michelle O’Neill must go”.”“This was greeted by boos throughout the crowd, along with chants of “the first minister has to go”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2Lockhart resigned as a DUP party officer last week amid a disagreement with DUP leader Gavin Robinson over whether the party should withdraw deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the powersharing executive, a step that would force O'Neill out of the joint office. Evening StandardN “Ms Lockhart resigned as a DUP party officer last week in a deepening row with the leadership over the future of Stormont.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ BBC NewsN “Lockhart last week stepped down from the DUP's officer board in response to party leader Gavin Robinson not removing their deputy first minister to force O'Neill from the joint office.” Read at BBC News ↗
Centre · 1BBC News reported that DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe, who is part of the party's officer team, then joined Lockhart's call in a Facebook post on Monday night, saying "it is my view that Michelle O'Neill should be removed from office" and that the "profound consequences" pledged "must be honoured". BBC NewsN “Diane Forsythe said "profound consequences" pledged over the Sinn Féin vice-president's handling of the Drumcree parading dispute "must be honoured".”“"It is my view that Michelle O'Neill should be removed from office.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Forsythe said that, short of such "meaningful action", official engagements as first minister through the Executive Office should stop immediately as a "bare minimum", and described unionist anger as "immense" and accused Sinn Féin of "arrogance". BBC NewsN “Forsythe added that in the absence of such "meaningful action", official engagements as first minister through the joint Executive Office should be stopped immediately as a "bare minimum".”“She accused Sinn Féin of "arrogance" and described the feelings of anger in the unionist community over O'Neill's actions as "immense".” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1O'Neill has defended attending the demonstrations, saying they would "continue to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents", while unionists accuse Sinn Féin of acting unlawfully. BBC NewsN “The Sinn Féin deputy leader has defended her attendance at the demonstrations last month, saying she would "continue to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents".”“with unionists accusing the party of acting unlawfully.” Read at BBC News ↗
Centre · 1Robinson said last week he was "sorry" to see Lockhart quit the officer board but that Lockhart remained "a key part of our team"; he said the DUP had reached a democratic decision, questioned whether it was necessary to "punish everyone in Northern Ireland" rather than "those who broke the law", and said "we keep all options on the table". BBC NewsN “Last week Robinson said he was "sorry" to see Lockhart quit the DUP's officer board but added that she remained "a key part of our team".”“"We have considered all options and we keep all options on the table," he added.” Read at BBC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the row as a political dispute inside and between Stormont's main parties, relaying each side's quotes with little editorialising. The Evening Standard leads with Kimmins' rebuttal; BBC News leads with growing DUP internal pressure on Robinson.
- Emphasis
- The Standard stresses Sinn Féin's democratic-mandate argument and the police inquiry; BBC News stresses the DUP split and Robinson's position.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Standard does not include Robinson's stated reasoning; BBC News does not include Kimmins' response or the Portadown rally crowd reaction.
- Charged language
- “going nowhere”“profound consequences”
- For example
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““Carla Lockhart and whoever else can say what they want, but the facts remain democracy is who elects the First Minister.” — Evening Standard
“The political row has sparked differences of opinion over how to respond within the DUP, which shares power with Sinn Féin in Stormont's devolved government.” — BBC News
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- DUP MP Carla Lockhart has called for First Minister Michelle O'Neill to go over the Drumcree dispute.
- Lockhart quit the DUP officer board last week over the leadership's handling of the issue.
- Police are investigating the Garvaghy Road protests and have interviewed O'Neill and other senior Sinn Féin figures.
Where accounts differ
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Whether O'Neill should remain first minister
- Centre
- Lockhart and Forsythe (DUP) say O'Neill should be removed; Kimmins (Sinn Féin) says the voters decided and O'Neill is "going nowhere".
Michelle O'Neill person
O'Neill has defended attending the Garvaghy Road demonstrations and says they will keep standing with residents; Sinn Féin colleagues say the office is decided by voters.
“saying she would "continue to stand with the Garvaghy Road residents"” — BBC News
“The people decided who the First Minister of the north is and that’s the way that will remain,” she said.” — Evening Standard
Carla Lockhart person
Lockhart says O'Neill must go, ties this to the promised "profound consequences", and quit the DUP officer board over the leadership's approach.
““profound consequences must mean profound consequences. Michelle O’Neill must go”.” — Evening Standard
“Lockhart last week stepped down from the DUP's officer board” — BBC News
Liz Kimmins person
Kimmins says O'Neill is "absolutely nowhere" near leaving, that voters elect the first minister, and that they will co-operate with the PSNI inquiry.
“Michelle O’Neill is going absolutely nowhere.” — Evening Standard
“she will co-operate with the PSNI as required.” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Michelle O’Neill is going nowhere, Stormont minister Kimmins says
Neutral Straight report led by Kimmins' rebuttal of Lockhart, with background on the Drumcree dispute and DUP tensions.
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DUP MLA joins Lockhart's call for O'Neill's removal as first minister
Neutral Reports a second DUP figure backing Lockhart and sets this against Robinson's more cautious line and the police inquiry.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 26 Oct 12:43 First Evening StandardN Michelle O’Neill is going nowhere, Stormont minister Kimmins says
- 27 Oct 00:00 +11h 17m BBC NewsN DUP MLA joins Lockhart's call for O'Neill's removal as first minister
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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