DUP says government pay offer for public servants 'backfired'

DUP deputy leader Gavin Robinson has told members it would be "an outrageously cruel act of political blackmail" for the UK Government to leverage funding for Northern Ireland against the demands of the party on post-Brexit trading arrangements.

It comes amid a Sinn Fein bid to recall Stormont on Wednesday - the day before trade unions are planning one of the largest public sector strikes Northern Ireland has seen in recent history.

Thursday is also the deadline for Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to call fresh Assembly elections if devolved government in Northern Ireland has not been restored.

The Assembly has been effectively collapsed for almost two years. The DUP is refusing to participate until unionist concerns around post-Brexit trading arrangements are addressed.

The party has insisted it will not end its blockade until it secures legislative assurances from the Government on Northern Ireland's trading position within the UK.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said his talks with the party over the Windsor Framework have concluded, although the DUP has insisted engagement is continuing.

Mr Robinson said the party wants devolution re-established but said the rights of Unionists must be respected for powersharing to work.

He said: "Our objective from day one has not been to get rid of devolution but rather to get a fair deal which unionists as well as nationalists can support.

"A deal that underpins the foundations of our devolved government rather than undermining them."

Previous talks between Mr Heaton-Harris and the main Stormont parties over a £3.3 billion financial package to accompany the return of devolution broke up at Hillsborough Castle in December without any agreement to restore the Assembly and Executive.

The package would include money to make an outstanding pay award to public sector workers.

In a letter to members also published in the News Letter, Mr Robinson said public sector workers deserve immediate fair pay.

He accused the Government of attempting to use a pay offer as leverage, further claiming this had "backfired".

Mr Robinson said: "It would be an outrageously cruel act of political blackmail for the Government to accept they have underfunded Northern Ireland yet not release that money because they want to leverage it against the DUP.

"Such an approach, will not work."

Representatives from the party are due to meet Mr Heaton-Harris on Monday.