Politics · United Kingdom · 8 hrs ago
Sinn Féin ministers face no-confidence vote after Drumcree dispute
Sinn Féin ministers in Northern Ireland are facing a no-confidence vote at Stormont after a dispute over Drumcree.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Ulster Unionists share power with Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party in the devolved government.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says the motion cannot succeed under the current system.
He says removing deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly to force Michelle O’Neill out as first minister would punish others and destabilise the government.
Other DUP members, including Carla Lockhart and Gregory Campbell, say the party should take strong action and that it cannot be business as usual.
The party has not agreed on a single course of action, and Robinson says it will decide when it reaches a consensus.
A motion of no confidence involving Sinn Féin ministers is expected after a dispute over Drumcree.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the motion could not succeed under the current system.
Some DUP figures have called for stronger action, including removing First Minister Michelle O’Neill from office.
Robinson said removing deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly would punish others and that he did not want to destabilise the government.
The DUP, Ulster Unionists, Sinn Féin and Alliance share power in Northern Ireland’s devolved government.
- Who
- Sinn Féin ministers face a no-confidence vote; DUP politicians are debating how to respond.
- What
- A motion of no confidence is expected after a Drumcree dispute. The article says it cannot succeed under the current system.
- When
- The article was published on 12 October 2026; the date of the motion is not stated.
- Where
- Stormont, Northern Ireland.
- Why
- The motion follows a dispute over Drumcree. The article does not give further details of the dispute.
DUP figures calling for stringent action
Gavin Robinson
Action at Stormont
DUP figures calling for stringent action
They say it cannot be business as usual and call for action to uphold the law, including removing O’Neill from office.
Gavin Robinson
Robinson said removing Little-Pengelly would punish everybody else and said he was not seeking to destabilise the government.
Sanctions for ministers
DUP figures calling for stringent action
Gregory Campbell said a minister convicted of a serious criminal offence should face a sanction preventing them from holding office.
Gavin Robinson
Robinson said a no-confidence motion could not succeed under the current system.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Publication date
- 12 October 2026
- Government parties
- DUP, Ulster Unionists, Sinn Féin and Alliance
- Deputy first minister
- Emma Little-Pengelly
- First minister
- Michelle O’Neill
- DUP leader
- Gavin Robinson
What people are saying
When somebody breaks the law they should be punished for breaking the law.
cannot be business as usual
We have got to take some action now to ensure that the law is upheld,
They are looking for action, they're going to get action.
Sources
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