The DUP and Sinn Féin today clashed after a Sinn Féin minister published a government document replacing all references to Northern Ireland with the preferred nationalist label “the North”.
DUP leader Peter Robinson accused Sinn Féin minister Conor Murphy of bad faith, but republicans dismissed the criticism and claimed it had more to do with internal unionist tensions.
Republicans claimed the DUP was running scared after the use of nationalist language was first spotted by former DUP member and leader of the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party Jim Allister.
In a leaked letter Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said he was seeking legal advice after Mr Murphy altered an agreed strategy document on regional development in Northern Ireland
The DUP denied being influenced by the TUV and claimed important changes had been made to the document,
The row is the latest sign of friction between the parties who are supposed to be agreeing a date for talks on the more substantial issue of devolving policing and justice powers to Stormont.
The two parties are split on a series of issues including the transfer of justice powers to Northern Ireland, as well as the future of the Maze stadium site and the introduction of an Irish language act.
The dispute has prevented cabinet meetings, but Mr Robinson has threatened serious consequences if a meeting scheduled for September 18th does not go ahead.
The DUP is also in the middle of an election battle where one of its government ministers, Arlene Foster, is battling to hold on to a DUP seat on Fermanagh District Council.
PA