DUP special advisor Crawford resigns amid RHI claims

DUP special advisor Andrew Crawford has resigned, party leader Arlene Foster has said.

It comes after he was named by a senior civil servant in an explosive hearing at Stormont on Wednesday as the person who allegedly exerted pressure to keep the botched Renewable Heat Incentive scheme open.

Permanent Secretary in the Department of Economy Dr Andrew McCormick said he had no direct evidence for his claim, but that he believed Dr Crawford was the person responsible.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, Mr Crawford - who was formerly a SPAD to Arlene Foster when she was Enterprise Minister and currently a SPAD in the Department of Agriculture - denied the claim.

Announcing his resignation on Thursday, he said: “In light of the allegations made at the Public Accounts Committee yesterday I believe it is appropriate that I step back from my position in government and resign as a Special Advisor. I am conscious I have become the focus of the story.

"I want to see a full and independent inquiry set up immediately so that it will become clear that at all times I acted with complete integrity in all that I did.

"I will be happy to give a full account of all of my actions during this period to the inquiry and for due process to take its course."