Gavin Robinson’s recent claim that Michelle O’Neill is not “a First Minister for all” is not merely wrong—it is deliberately blind to her proven record of reconciliation and symbol-shattering leadership.
In May 2023, O’Neill attended King Charles III’s coronation and made plain why, stating:
“We live in changing times and it was the respectful thing to do, to show respect and to be here for all those people at home, who I had said I would be a first minister for all. Attendance here is about honouring that and fulfilling my promise.”
Sky News also captured her vision:
“There are those in our community who have a British identity and allegiance to the monarchy … I think it’s important that I, as a first minister for all, can be respectful of their viewpoint.”
At her Stormont inauguration in February 2024, O’Neill pledged:
“I will serve everyone equally and be a first minister for all … Wherever we come from, whatever our aspirations, we can and must build our future together.”
These aren’t political headlines—they are consistent, public commitments grounded in both words and deeds.
Meanwhile, Robinson is indulging in politics of grievance, not statesmanship. During the Derry jobs fair debacle, he derided her capacity for inclusion even as local councillors acted democratically. He charged:
“I don’t paint her as a First Minister for all, I don’t believe she is, I never have. My view on that won’t change.”
Yet, when O’Neill refused to be lectured—stating bluntly that Robinson should “butt out” and respect the democratic process—she was upholding the very ethos of power-sharing.
While O’Neill pursues peace and unity, Robinson peddles a narrative of fear and mistrust—to a public increasingly weary of such posturing.
Time magazine captured the contrast perfectly, praising O’Neill as:
A “unifying First Minister … transcending historical divides by participating in British royal events … striving to address contemporary issues”
The difference couldn’t be clearer. O’Neill moves forward with inclusion; Robinson retreats into sectarian script. Her gestures—attending royal events, pledging equality, embracing symbolic inclusion—are not theatre. They’re courageous leadership aimed at knitting together the fractured social fabric of NEI.
In this moment, when Stormont’s very survival depends on mutual respect and shared future-building, Robinson’s claim isn’t just wrong—it’s undermining. His comment does not critique—it sabotages.
NEI doesn’t need more division masquerading as integrity. It needs visionaries.
Very good Jude free Palestine
Excellent article Jude.
It’s a shame, as always, the actions O’Neill has engaged in to demonstrate her willingness to act as a FM for all, is lost/forgotten/goes over the heads of her most vociferous of critics.