Rishi Sunak tells DUP their Brexit boycott ‘bad for unionism’

Stormont deadlock ‘won’t bolster cause of unionism’, says PM – as Bill Clinton urges unionists to ‘get show back on the road’

Bill Clinton and Rishi Sunak at Queen's University Belfast (PA)

Rishi Sunak has delivered his strong warning yet to DUP leaders about their refusal to restore powersharing arrangements in Northern Ireland – insisting that the Stormont boycott would damage the cause of unionism.

In a speech at Queen’s University in Belfast, the prime minister urged the DUP to accept the “breakthrough moment” of his post-Brexit compromise deal with the EU and return to government with Sinn Fein.

“I want to speak directly to the representatives of unionism,” the PM said. “I urge you to work with us to get Stormont up and running again. That’s the right thing to do in its own terms. And I’m convinced it’s also the right thing to do for our union. I’m a proud unionist.”