George W Bush asks Cameron to help secure UUP support
George W Bush asks David Cameron to help secure UUP support ahead of vote at Stormont
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Tuesday, 09, Mar 2010 11:28
By inthenews.co.uk staff.
Former US President George W Bush has intervened in today's vote on the devolution of policing and justice powers in Stormont.
Mr Bush called on Conservative party leader David Cameron to help secure the Ulster Unionist party (UUP) vote to support the transfer of power; although the party appear determined to reject the proposal.
The crucial vote later today could devolve policing and justice powers from Westminster, with support from three of the Northern Ireland Assembly's four parties - the Democratic Unionists, Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic Labour Party - supporting the proposal following lengthy talks. A 'no' vote from the UUP is likely to still allow the devolved powers to go through.
The Conservative party has an electoral pact with the UUP, and now Mr Bush has called on the Tory party leader to help prompt the UUP to vote 'yes'. Mr Cameron is believed to have responded by explaining that as the leader of a different political party he could not wield decisive influence over the UUP.
Fred Cobain, its chief whip, has attacked the Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward's threat of withholding the £800 million of funding for policing and justice as "nothing short of blackmail".
"If Shaun Woodward wanted the UUP's support, he should have guaranteed the UUP's place at the negotiating table," he said.
A poll has shown around 72 per cent of people in Northern Ireland support the proposed transfer of responsibilities.