THE North’s Secretary of State has pulled out of an event run by the DUP after it was revealed to be a party fundraiser.
Billed as a business breakfast, Mr Brokenshire was listed as guest speaker alongside DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster.
However, Mr Brokenshire withdrew in the face of unwelcome publicity after the story was published in The Irisn News newspaper.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he needs to show he is not favouring one party over any other.
“It’s quite clear, given the Tory party conference, champagne receptions and James Brokenshire agreeing to attend a fundraiser, that they seem to be working very closely together,” said Mr Eastwood.
“That’s fine on one level, but the British secretary of state and the British Government should not be in the pocket of any one party.
“He needs to now go overboard in demonstrating that he isn’t captured by the DUP, that he is his own man and he’s prepared to stand up for what’s right in Northern Ireland – not for what Arlene Foster tells him.”
The café hosting the event, in Lisburn, County Antrim, is charging £30 a plate or £300 a table.
The invitation described it as “an excellent opportunity to network with business and elected representatives”.
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