Opposition to Army at jobs fair a 'failure of leadership' - DUP leader

Gavin Robinson has criticised politicians who say the armed forces are not welcome at a jobs fair in Londonderry

Opposition to the armed forces attending a Londonderry jobs fair is "a complete failure of political leadership", the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson has said.

His comments follow a row at Derry and Strabane Council over whether the Army should attend the jobs fair in the council-owned Foyle Arena leisure centre next Tuesday.

He said DUP ministers "would not allow discrimination against those seeking to pursue a career in the armed forces".

Sinn Féin's Christopher Jackson and the SDLP's Brian Tierney are among the councillors who oppose the military attending the event.

The event is to take place in the Foyle Arena next Tuesday

Jackson said his party "fully opposed" it and Tierney said there were "ample opportunities" elsewhere for anyone wishing to join the armed forces.

The comments were made during a heated exchange that took place during the council's governance and strategic planning committee earlier this week.

Some unionist councillors defended the Ministry of Defence (MoD) registering as an employer for the event, which is jointly run by the Department for Communities (DfC) and Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Ulster Unionist Derek Hussey, citing his own family's military background, criticised councillors who opposed the armed forces' attendance.

DUP councillor Chelsea Cooke said many young people in the city would welcome the chance to consider a military career.

Council officials said they would pass members' opposing views to the department and bring forward a paper on future policy.

On Friday, his party leader, Gavin Robinson, accused nationalist parties of double standards, saying those who "talk most loudly about equality and discrimination" were seeking to deny young people the right to hear about a career option.

"No-one will be conscripted or press-ganged into the Army by attending this fair," he said.

Robinson said the "spectacle" which played out within the council "highlighted a complete failure of political leadership".

"There was opposition to young people joining the British Army from someone who previously gave a character reference to an Irish soldier charged with rape," Robinson said, referring to SDLP councillor Brian Tierney.

He apologised after providing a court reference for an Irish soldier who was later jailed. The former mayor of Derry and Strabane previously said he was unaware of the "seriousness" of the case when he wrote the reference.

Tierney said he withdrew it when he became aware of the nature of the charges. He was suspended by the party and later reinstated following an investigation.

"We need to hear from the SDLP leadership in particular," Robinson added.

"Where is the practical action to meet the rhetoric of a shared society and of a shared city in Londonderry that we so often hear talked about?"

'Army not welcome at council event' - Sinn Féin

Following Gavin Robinson's comments, Sinn Féin's Christopher Jackson said the Department for Communities had applied pressure on the council to allow the armed forces to attend the event.

"The British military has had a negative impact in this island for centuries and they are not welcome on this island," he said.

"And from our perspective, they are not welcome in any council event or venue."

He said his party fully supported the jobs fair but that it was "not the place for British military propaganda".

BBC News NI has approached the SDLP for a response to Robinson's comments.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also been asked for comment.

In a statement previously issued to BBC News NI, Derry City and Strabane District Council said: "The steer given by elected members of the governance and strategic planning committee this week in relation to the jobs fair would be communicated to the Department for Communities."

Speaking after a meeting of the NI Executive at Stormont Castle on Thursday, Communities' Minister Gordon Lyons said the opposition by some councillors was born out of "hostility to the Army".

"It's preventing people from hearing about opportunities that are there.

"Many of their own constituents will want to hear about the jobs that are available," he said.