Allister speaks out on McGuinness meeting the Queen

TUV leader Jim Allister has spoken out on the news that Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness is to meet the Queen during her visit to Northern Ireland next week.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Jun 2012, 13:00 BST

Mr McGuinness and First Minister Peter Robinson have been invited to attend a Co-operation Ireland reception along with the Queen and the Irish President Michael D Higgins.

In the past, Sinn Fein leaders have boycotted Royal visits to Ireland.

However, a decision to meet the Queen was made at a special Sinn Fein leadership meeting on Friday.

Responding to the news, Mr Allister said: “The choreography of bringing the Irish President to the same event where McGuinness is expected to meet The Queen is patent politicking and pandering to Sinn Fein, designed to dilute the singularity of British sovereignty in Northern Ireland.

“This is a visit by the Sovereign of this nation and should not be tempered by a parallel visit from a foreign head of state.

“As for The Queen having to meet McGuinness, my sympathies are with her”.