Sinn Fein pulls out of Northern Ireland welfare reform

Sinn Fein has pulled its support for welfare reform legislation amid accusations of political opponents acting in bad faith.

A resolution of the deadlock over the non-implementation of the UK Government's welfare reforms had been a key plank of the Stormont House political agreement which the Republicans had supported since December.

Legislation had progressed through the Assembly but Sinn Fein dramatically ended its support, accusing the Democratic Unionist Party of 'reneging on commitments'.

Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the DUP's behaviur was 'unacceptable'.

"At Stormont House the five parties agreed a series of measures to protect the vulnerable and safeguard current and future welfare claimants under the control of the executive,"

"However, the DUP have acted in bad faith and are now reneging on their commitments to protect the most vulnerable. It is their intention to provide only partial protection to current recipients of benefit and no protection whatsoever for future claimants.

"That is totally unacceptable. If the DUP want to strip benefits from children with disabilities, from adults with severe disabilities, the long-term sick, or push children further into poverty, then they need to explain and justify that. Sinn Fein certainly will not accept that approach."

First minister Peter Robinson was scathing about Sinn Fein's actions.

"I have never seen such a dishonourable, ham-fisted statement as the one issued by Sinn Fein today.

"The DUP will implement every word and number in the Stormont House and Stormont Castle Agreements."