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Robin Newton. PA Archive/PA Images

Stormont speaker rejects allegations he misled assembly over role with UDA-linked group

The allegations were made in a BBC Spotlight programme last night.

THE SPEAKER OF the Stormont Assembly Robin Newton has denied allegations that he was not honest about his role with a UDA-backed community group.

The allegations were made in a BBC Spotlight programme last night.

The programme revealed that the East Belfast MLA did not declare his role with the group Charter NI. The role was held at the same time as Newton was sitting on a steering group which gave a £1.7 million management contract to Charter NI.

In October, Newton blocked an Assembly question about the group receiving state funds while its CEO Dee Stitt retained links to the UDA.

It was later revealed that Charter NI’s Facebook page called Newton its adviser, something he denied.

However, internal documents obtained by the BBC show that Newton is referred to as an adviser going back many years.

One document says that he “did more than just go to the board meetings”.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood says that the allegations “cannot be swept under the carpet”.

Robin Newton should immediately resign as the speaker of the Assembly and his position as an MLA is now in serious question. Mr Newton has been misleading the Assembly and the public since last year when the SDLP Deputy Leader, Nichola Mallon, first asked him to clarify his relationship with Charter NI.

“The public have every right to be angry – the last 10 years of government in Northern Ireland has brought us scandals in RHI, Red SKY, NAMA and now SIF.”

In a statement today, Newton said that while he won’t run for the £87,000-a-year Speaker position again, he rejects the allegations.

“I reject the allegations in the Spotlight programme. I did not mislead the NI Assembly. I have never been appointed to any position with Charter NI. I am not responsible for how others refer to me in their correspondence.

“I will not be a candidate for Speaker in any new Assembly. At the next NI Assembly sitting, I will chair the election of a new Speaker as the first matter of business.”

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Favourite ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    May 5th 2013, 12:39 PM

    The rise of Islamophobia & the re-emergence of Anti-Semitism in Europe is very sad to see. Fear through ignorance is the cause of all types of racism. People fear what/who they don’t know & understand.

    92
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    Mute Genius
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    May 5th 2013, 1:08 PM

    Well you assume all who are sceptic of promoters of jehad and indiscriminate killing of women and children in the west bank are ignorant and racist,That in itself is a stereo typing.I would suggest that a total sense of apathy is not the answer as you suggest.

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    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
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    May 5th 2013, 1:11 PM

    Global Jihad is nothing at all to be concerned about.

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    Mute Conor Murphy
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    May 5th 2013, 6:21 PM

    @Genius

    There is a difference between Islamaphobia and critiquing islam. Europe undeniably has a huge problem with Islamaphobia.

    16
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    Mute Genius
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    May 5th 2013, 6:52 PM

    @Conor Murphy
    Can you have a guess as to why that might be,Its not a totally unfounded irrational fear.

    16
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    Mute Jason Bourne
    Favourite Jason Bourne
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    May 5th 2013, 6:55 PM

    Straight in therw again Thomas!!!!! How do you do it. Its like you are getting paid to watch these articles online. Oh wait……. a go, collect that 2grand. Fair play. Easy money if you can get it

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    Mute Chris
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    May 5th 2013, 12:41 PM

    And we all thought Germany left that behind them and they then call the shots in the rest of Europe shame on them

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    Mute snooch
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    May 5th 2013, 12:48 PM

    129 people in one of the largest states in Europe. Thats like trying to make out what the staff in one tesco store do is what the entire Irish nation do. Backwards blind Germany bashing will most likely be par for course on this article.

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    Mute Anne De Croix
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    May 5th 2013, 3:26 PM

    Ah, where’s my comment gone!

    Like racism in much of the west, pro nazi sentiment is alive and well in modern Germany according to some Germans I met recently.

    17
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    Mute Sean Browne
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    May 5th 2013, 1:44 PM

    Where is the tesco store I’m going to lidl from now on

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    Mute Mark Gaynor
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    May 5th 2013, 7:44 PM

    Now I know why I can’t get a good bagel or falafal in Germany!

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