UUP Chief Whip, John Stewart MLA said:

“There is growing DUP rhetoric appealing to Unionists to vote for them out of fear as we approach 18 May.  Once again, they are looking to the electorate to bail them out.  More brazenly than usual they do so while trying to bluff their way past polling day without revealing where they stand on returning to Stormont. 

“The Windsor Framework was published two months ago.  The DUP’s much heralded panel report was submitted at the end of March.  Are they seriously saying they have not come to a considered view by now?  I have no doubt they are paving the way for a return to Stormont after the election, so why not tell the people now if this is the case or not?