The Ulster Unionist Party ‘s Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken OBE MLA has hit out at the Finance Minister Conor Murphy’s refusal to permit the planting of a tree on the Stormont Estate to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee later this year.  

Steve Aiken, Chair of Stormont’s Finance Committee, said;

“Whether it is Centennial stones, roses or now a tree to mark the Queen`s Platinum Jubilee, the lack of accommodation being shown by Finance Minister Conor Murphy towards unionism bodes ill for community relations.

“Last year Sinn Fein repeatedly demonstrated its refusal to contemplate the importance of Northern Ireland’s Centenary for the unionist community.  Coming from a party whose elected representatives cannot even bring themselves to utter the words ‘Northern Ireland’ that should come as no surprise.

“Sadly, this attitude looks set to continue in 2022, with the refusal to recognise that for the majority of people in Northern Ireland it is important to recognise the enormous contribution the Queen has made over many decades to the country. Whether Sinn Fein likes it or not, the Queen is the Head of State of the United Kingdom, and that includes Northern Ireland.

“The Ulster Unionist Party wants to promote a confident and inclusive unionism based on the principles of mutual respect, tolerance and understanding.

“It is therefore very disappointing that Sinn Fein continues to demonstrate this level of intolerance towards anything that represents unionism. It also shows to all right-minded people that when Mary Lou McDonald talks of reconciliation, it is only on republican terms. This is, to say the least, not a great start to understanding in 2022.”