Mr Middleton was responding to remarks by Sinn Fein’s Declan Kearney who indicated his desire to exclude unionism from government.
Gary Middleton MLA said,
“Political progress in Northern Ireland can only be made when unionists and nationalists move forward together with mutual respect.
Mr Kearney’s remarks would indicate his desire to exclude unionism from government.
Unfortunately for Mr Kearney, the days of Sinn Fein expecting unionists to be seen, but not heard are over.
The people of Northern Ireland have had enough of Sinn Fein’s petty politics of exclusion. Unionism has had enough of Sinn Fein’s disrespectand blinkered bigotry.
The DUP will not stand by and allow Sinn Fein to misuse public office towage a premeditated and calculated campaign of intolerance against their neighbours.
The time has now come for the people to have their say at the ballot boxand to show Sinn Fein that Unionism will not be side-lined.”