Gordon Lyons must resign from his position as Communities Minister

Last night, Gordon Lyons issued a public statement highlighting that families who had been terrorised out of their homes in Ballymena had taken shelter in Larne Leisure Centre. Hours later the Leisure Centre was attacked, its windows smashed and the building set on fire.

He’s already been reported to the Standards Committee, and right now calls are mounting for him to resign. 

Words matter, and at times like this, good political leadership can make all the difference to people’s safety.

This is not it.

Right now, we have a chance to put a marker down. Politicians need to know that holding public office is not compatible with issuing statements that bring communities who are already under attack into further danger. And that there has to be consequences for that.