Debate contribution: Summit on the Break-up of the United Kingdom
Debate contribution by Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly on .
- MLA
- Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 14 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Matter of the Day
- Heading
- Summit on the Break-up of the United Kingdom
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5685184
Read the official Assembly record
Text
We face many challenges across Northern Ireland, not least in relation to our education sector, driving down health waiting lists, growing our economy and supporting a better, brighter future for every person in Northern Ireland, yet, today, the nationalist leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin are meeting in Cardiff not to talk about those important issues but to push for the break-up of the United Kingdom. Over the weekend, those attending briefed that it was a meeting of the First Ministers. That caused significant concern, not least when it was said that they would be signing up to a charter to chart a pathway to the destruction of the United Kingdom — a wreckers' charter. It is therefore incredibly important that we clarify in absolute terms that it is not a meeting of the First Ministers. Michelle O'Neill is not attending as First Minister. She had and has no authority to sign anything at the summit on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland. Michelle O'Neill has not sought or obtained any agreement to attend as First Minister. When called out on what they were attempting to spin, the parties clarified that it is indeed a meeting of the parties and not of the First Ministers. I give a commitment to the people of Northern Ireland that, in my role as deputy First Minister — a joint role, jointly leading the Executive and equal in every way in legislation and in what we do — I will never allow the role of First Minister to be used, misused or weaponised in a way that pushes for the abolition of Northern Ireland and the destruction of the United Kingdom.
We are much stronger together when it comes to our economy, defence and future. Let us be very clear about what this is: it is a summit of separatists, arguing from a minority position and pushing forward a wreckers' charter, focusing on constitutional issues and the destruction of the Union, at a time when the people whom we serve want us to work together to deliver change in health, in education, to our roads and to our infrastructure — working to actually deliver for people. I am here, determined to deliver for everyone across Northern Ireland, when others are away pursuing narrow political agendas.
385 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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