Robin Swann: The DUP have dragged unionism 'into the gutter'

The Ulster Unionist Party leader has accused the DUP of dragging unionism "into the gutter".

Robin Swann told his party's annual conference there is "a battle to save the union from the DUP".

He also attacked Sinn Féin and the Westminster and Dublin governments, but his strongest criticism was of the DUP.

Echoing the words of former Ulster Unionist prime minister Terence O'Neill, he said: "Northern Ireland stands at the crossroads."

The Ulster Unionist Party is holding its annual conference in Armagh.

Robin Swann saved his strongest criticism for the DUP

Attacking the DUP over the RHI scandal, he said: "The irony is that when the DUP have the perfect opportunity to be at the fore of pan-UK unionism, their Ulster nationalism shines through. It's grotesque.

"It's as bad as holidaying at the expense of a foreign government or breaching Westminster rules against paid advocacy. It's not good enough. For Northern Ireland, for unionism.

"It's grim the DUP have created a situation where Sinn Féin, of all people, are able to call for integrity in government and gifted them the opportunity to pull down the institutions."

'Frozen in fear'

Mr Swann accused Sinn Féin of being "utterly incapable of showing any sensitivity towards the victims of IRA violence".

He added: "You cannot preach reconciliation while in the next breath lauding sectarian killers and shouting 'up the Rebels'."

Calling on the government to hold talks aimed at restoring devolution, he said they should stop allowing Northern Ireland to wither on the vine "because you're either too busy looking over your shoulder at the DUP and frozen in fear at the thought of upsetting Sinn Féin sensitivities".

Robin Swann recently met with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels

On the Irish government, he accused it of "trying to exploit Brexit to weaken the integrity of the United Kingdom".

He added: "I have a message for Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and their colleagues in the Irish Government - tread carefully."

Mr Swann told BBC News NI that the DUP was endangering the union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain because of its approach to Brexit.

Unlike his predecessor, Mike Nesbitt, Mr Swann voted to leave the European Union.

He also said he believes former prime minister David Cameron made a mistake saying that had he achieved the European reforms he wanted to, we would never have had the kind of Brexit referendum he ended up with, adding hindsight was a fantastic thing.

The North Antrim MLA insisted support was returning to the Ulster Unionists.

'What exactly were they doing?'

This is despite the party having suffered a number of poor elections which have seen the DUP pull further ahead.

"For all their shouting of 'more votes, more seats more influence', where were they in December when this backstop made its way into the text?

"But I tell you what, Arlene Foster had better make an exception and make sure she's across every jot and title of this one, because she will be held accountable and responsible.

"Because if the deal that appears in the coming weeks is a bad one for Northern Ireland and its place in the union, people will rightly ask what exactly were they doing?"

Former UUP leader Lord Empey also attacked the DUP.

"It's like kids released into a sweetie shop. They couldn't keep their hands out of the jar," he said.