PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: CHANCELLOR'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
 

Commenting on the announcement that the British government will once again recognise the UVF ceasefire, SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns stated:  

“It should be recognised that the UVF has taken some steps to address some of the clear and well documented concerns that exist. This was recently acknowledged by the IMC but there remains enduring issues about other ongoing activities.

The UVF must only be judged against how they measure up to the task of ending all of their activities. This means that there must be complete and verifiable disposal of all weapons, the ending of all criminality and the dismantling of the command structures and organisation. These are the standards on which the SDLP and the wider community will judge the UVF.

The British government have taken the decision to despecify the UVF. The real issue is not their legal status but how the UVF reforms and conforms to the democratic will of the people.”

ENDS