‘No agenda’ in thanking Martin McGuinness – Paisley

DUP’s Ian Paisley has said he had no agenda in paying tribute to Martin McGuinness, after he thanked him for his work in Northern Ireland politics.

The North Antrim MP and son of the late former first Minister Dr Ian Paisley, publicly thanked the former deputy first minister for his contribution to establishing peace and stability in Northern Ireland along with his father in government after Mr McGuinness announced he was quitting Stormont politics.

Speaking to UTV, Mr Paisley said: “I used a very simple phrase, I said thank you, and I acknowledged the fact that if Martin McGuinness hadn’t have cooperated and treated with respect my party and my father the way that he did when we originally did the deal for a government in Northern Ireland then we wouldn’t be in the place we are today.

“And where are we? We are in a stable Northern Ireland. Unfortunately we have this glitch in regards to the devolved settlement but I think it should give us encouragement that the foundation stone is well in place to build on and to get devolution up and running again.”

He said he had no agenda in praising Mr McGuinness.

He added: “There’s absolutely no plan in any of this, this is an honest assessment. I hope that all politicians have the calibre, strength of character and hopefully commitment to be able to be honest about these things.”

“I have no other agenda in any of this. I’m a member of Parliament for this constituency, that’s my agenda and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has welcomed the warm tribute.