DUP leader Edwin Poots has denied a purge is being carried out against dissenting voices in the party, following the resignation of several members. He claimed some of those who raised their hands in support of holding a secret ballot on the ratification were told to take their hands down. Ms Bradley said she did not witness any such scenes at the meeting but she pledged to investigate the claims. She said a secret ballot may have been a better way to conduct the ratification vote. “If there had been a secret ballot, Edwin would still have won the secret ballot but, yes, if it had calmed what we have now, well then yes of course, with hindsight, absolutely,” she told BBC Radio Ulster.

Source: The Irish Times June 07, 2021 09:53 UTC