Ulster Unionist Health spokesperson, Alan Chambers MLA, has called for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to take control of his party following the decision of DUP MPs to vote against the wearing of face coverings in Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Chambers said:

“DUP double-speak about measures designed to curb the spread of Covid-19 needs to end. On one hand First Minister Paul Givan indicates that mask wearing is here to stay throughout this autumn and winter yet his colleagues Sammy Wilson, Ian Paisley and Paul Girvan voted against the wearing of face coverings in Parliament on Tuesday.  

“It is extremely distasteful that Sammy Wilson even made a crude attempt at a joke on twitter while stating that the measures being introduced in Parliament ‘are not proportionate to deal with the spread of the mild omicron variant.’ Since when did Sammy Wilson become an expert on Covid-19?

“That is at complete polar opposites with Paul Givan who stated in the Assembly that ‘we want to keep our businesses and leisure sectors open and we want to minimize impacts on citizens over the coming months. We have the best chance of doing this if we all continue to follow the basics and if as many people as possible take the vaccines.’

“If the DUP can`t even agree a coherent position on following the basics such as mask wearing, they will continue to undermine public health messaging. The question for Paul Givan and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is who is leading who? Are they so beholden to Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley that they are afraid to act? It`s time for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to take control of his party and put an end to these childish outbursts from Sammy Wilson and colleagues. This isn`t a game and the words and actions of politicians like Sammy Wilson have consequences.”