New deputy Assembly speaker Mitchel McLaughlin says he supports peace process

THE Assembly was embroiled in a DUP/Sinn Fein ‘carve up’ row at Stormont on Monday.

It follows the election of Sinn Fein’s Mitchel McLaughlin to the post of deputy speaker in the chamber.

Liberal unionists Basil McCrea and John McCallister, 10 UUP MLAs, TUV Jim Allister MLA and Green Party MLA Steven Agnew voted against McLaughlin for Deputy Speaker.

A furious Basil McCrea accused the DUP and Sinn of a political “carve up” over the post.

There were heated exchanges at Stormont as the South Antrim MLA was voted in, with First Minister Peter Robinson first asking him to confirm his commitment to law and order.

It came after a Belfast Telegraph poll taken at the Ard Fheis last weekend revealed more than a quarter of Sinn Féin delegates still supported dissident republicans.

The party described the poll as “dubious” and Mr McLaughlin said he was “disappointed” by the DUP leaders remarks, but said he is fully behind the peace process.

Mr Robinson said he was satisfied with the clarification.