DUP blocks O’Neill from Glasgow economic meeting amid Drumcree dispute

The DUP has withdrawn agreement for First Minister Michelle O’Neill to attend a UK economic meeting in Glasgow, citing her involvement in an unnotified protest over the Drumcree parade. O’Neill says the decision leaves Northern Ireland without representation and is politically motivated; the dispute has also halted other joint engagements between Stormont’s First and Deputy First Ministers.

• DUP leader Gavin Robinson confirmed that joint engagements between the First and Deputy First Ministers had stopped, and said O’Neill would not be permitted to attend the Glasgow meeting alone.· 1 source
• Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she withdrew agreement for the engagements, citing O’Neill’s conduct at the Drumcree protest; O’Neill called the decision reckless and politically motivated.· 2 sources
• The protest opposed an Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road in Portadown and had not been notified to the Parades Commission. A judge upheld the ban on the parade.· 1 source
• Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant said it was frustrating that the Executive would not be represented at the economic meeting and urged political leaders to engage.· 2 sources
• DUP figures disagree over how far to go in responding to the dispute: Carla Lockhart has advocated removing Little-Pengelly from the Executive, while Robinson has resisted that step.· 2 sources