07/11/2001
DUP lodge bid to overturn 2003 election date
The Democratic Unionist Party has launched a legal bid to challenge the Secretary of State’s decision not to call fresh elections before 2003.
On Wednesday November 7 the DUP lodged an application with Belfast High Court for a judicial review into the decision of Dr John Reid not to call a new poll before May 1 2003. The decision on whether the DUP bid is successful will be known on Thursday morning.
DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson accused Dr Reid of breaking an undertaking by his legal counsel in the High Court on Monday to set a date for an election within a reasonable period.
He said: “I think there is a very strong and clear legal case. The law places a mandatory responsibility on the Secretary of State to propose a date for an election and he has failed to do that.”
Anti-Agreement Unionists have reacted angrily to Tuesday’s election of Mr David Trimble as First Minister and Mr Mark Durkan as Deputy First Minister. After the two men were officially installed, a fracas took place in the Great Hall of Stormont between anti and pro agreement factions.
The DUP have expressed their dismay already this week. At the High Court on Monday the judge Mr Justice Brian Kerr dismissed a previous DUP application for a judicial review, accepting an argument by Dr Reid’s lawyer that the minister was under an obligation to call a new election. The judge accepted the argument the secretary of state had discretion on the timing of any new Assembly poll.
Dr Reid insisted his decision represented a reasonable and common sense approach and said: “I'm absolutely confident I have acted throughout within the law and with complete propriety in the discharge of my duties.”
Anti-agreement unionists are also considering going to court to challenge Mr Trimble’s reinstatement after members of the centre Alliance Party temporarily re-designated as unionist in order to facilitate his installation. (AMcE)
On Wednesday November 7 the DUP lodged an application with Belfast High Court for a judicial review into the decision of Dr John Reid not to call a new poll before May 1 2003. The decision on whether the DUP bid is successful will be known on Thursday morning.
DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson accused Dr Reid of breaking an undertaking by his legal counsel in the High Court on Monday to set a date for an election within a reasonable period.
He said: “I think there is a very strong and clear legal case. The law places a mandatory responsibility on the Secretary of State to propose a date for an election and he has failed to do that.”
Anti-Agreement Unionists have reacted angrily to Tuesday’s election of Mr David Trimble as First Minister and Mr Mark Durkan as Deputy First Minister. After the two men were officially installed, a fracas took place in the Great Hall of Stormont between anti and pro agreement factions.
The DUP have expressed their dismay already this week. At the High Court on Monday the judge Mr Justice Brian Kerr dismissed a previous DUP application for a judicial review, accepting an argument by Dr Reid’s lawyer that the minister was under an obligation to call a new election. The judge accepted the argument the secretary of state had discretion on the timing of any new Assembly poll.
Dr Reid insisted his decision represented a reasonable and common sense approach and said: “I'm absolutely confident I have acted throughout within the law and with complete propriety in the discharge of my duties.”
Anti-agreement unionists are also considering going to court to challenge Mr Trimble’s reinstatement after members of the centre Alliance Party temporarily re-designated as unionist in order to facilitate his installation. (AMcE)
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Lord’s reserve judgement on DUP bid to overturn election
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