Election TV debate: NI parties go head-to-head in BBC programme

The UTV debate took place on Sunday and was attended by DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Sinn Féin’s John Finucane, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance leader Naomi Long and UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler.

Mr Robinson defended the DUP’s deal which saw the party in February end its two-year boycott of Stormont’s devolved government and legislative assembly.

Mrs Long criticised the DUP’s record at Westminster while Mr Finucane defended his party’s policy of not taking its seats in the House of Commons.

That stance was criticised by Mr Eastwood, whose party does sit at Westminster.

Mr Butler criticised Sinn Féin and the DUP for collapsing the Stormont executive in previous years.

There were also debates over Irish unity between the unionist and and nationalist parties.

But Mr Robinson also criticised the Alliance leader – whose party is unaligned on the constitutional question – for agreeing to attend a conference by a group campaigning for a united Ireland but later pulling out.

She defended her position, saying she had been busy campaigning, not “hiding”.

She and Mr Robinson are going head-to-head in Belfast East for the fourth general election in a row.