Lisburn Councillor criticises own Party

In an unprecedented criticism of the party from a serving representative, Lisburn councillor Jenny Palmer, who is a member of the Housing Executive board, told BBC Spotlight that two years ago she had received a phone call from DUP minister Nelson McCausland’s special adviser, Stephen Brimstone, telling her to vote for the contract at a key board meeting. Mr Brimstone, who declined to be interviewed for the programme, wrote to Spotlight saying that he rejected the “accuracy” of that account of the conversation and insisted that he had not put pressure on her about how to vote. Mrs Palmer said that he told her that “he needed me to basically go against the decision of the board on the extension of the contract for Red Sky. I said to him: I don’t think I can do that.” She added: “He said: The party comes first – you do what you’re told, otherwise there is no point in [you] being on the board, if I wasn’t prepared to do what they asked me to do.”

Speaking after the show went to air, Mrs Palmer said she was “relieved” that it was all out in the open.

“I felt very under pressure for the last few years in dealing with this and I am glad it has come out. I have had a lot of calls of support from all over Ireland from different Parties and from some of my own colleagues. I don’t know if I will hear from the Party leader, I will have to see how the Party Executive deals with it.”

Lisburn Alliance Councillor, Stephen Martin, was quick to speak out in support of Mrs Palmer, saying: “Jenny Palmer’s bravery in putting her head above the parapet to highlight her concerns regarding inappropriate political pressure being brought to bear upon her is nearly unheard of in today’s political arena. Councillor Palmer, to my mind, has acted in the very best interests of our Lisburn South constituents in how she has conducted herself. A lesser person would have said nothing and kept their head down.

“We need to ensure Jenny Palmer is not forgotten about as this unfolds over the forthcoming period. Jenny has stood up with integrity. We need to stand with Jenny.”

Mrs Palmer’s own Party has been quiet on the issue. MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he would meet with Mrs Palmer to discuss her concerns.

Other local members of the Party either declined to comment or were unavailable.

In a general statement regarding the Spotlight programme, the DUP said it would be taking legal action against Spotlight and “a number of the participants” regarding what they say are “a series of inaccurate claims and defamatory statements.”