Michelle O'Neill claims the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly has 'blocked' her from meeting Burnham at Glasgow summit in 'reactive stunt'

Gavin Robinson, pictured in September, faces the threat of further resignations from his own party officers if he resists calls to withdraw Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the Stormont Executive.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly refused to give the joint consent required for O'Neill to attend Friday's National Economic Council in Glasgow, effectively barring Northern Ireland from the summit entirely. O'Neill called the move "reckless and irresponsible" and said she has contacted Northern Secretary Chris Bryant to make her position "absolutely clear." The block comes as the DUP's ruling officers met Thursday to decide what sanctions to impose over Sinn Féin's role in last month's Garvaghy Road protests.

Two Sinn Féin TDs, Pearse Doherty and Matt Carthy, also attended voluntary police interviews in Belfast on Thursday over the Drumcree standoff.

The DUP is expected to announce its chosen sanctions at a news conference later Thursday, with hardliners demanding Little-Pengelly be withdrawn from the Executive — a move that would collapse Stormont.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has resisted that nuclear option, with analysts saying the party has 'neither a strategic plan nor the appetite' to follow through.

Evening StandardMichelle O’Neill: I’ve been ‘blocked’ from attending event by ‘DUP stunt’BBC News - PoliticsDUP party officers to meet to discuss Drumcree next steps Evening StandardDUP party officers to meet amid ongoing fall-out over Drumcree dispute Irish TimesSiobhán Fenton: DUP’s tough talk on Sinn Féin exposes the bind it finds itself in The Irish SunDUP to meet amid ongoing fall-out over Drumcree dispute & cop probe as Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill’s position at risk RTE.ieDUP party officers to meet amid Drumcree fallout - RTE.ie

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