Mr Beggs said: “After weeks and weeks of ‘Project Fear’ scaremongering from the DUP, I find it staggering that at the very first opportunity, the DUP decided to support a SF MLA who was up against a fellow Unionist.

“Alastair Ross, Gordon Lyons and David Hilditch all saw the apparent merits of appointing a SF member as opposed to a UUP principal deputy Speaker, with Alliance joining with the UUP in opposing the SF representative.

“In effect, the DUP have placed Caitriona Ruane in prime position as the next Speaker of the Assembly. Given the South Down MLAs active role in supporting the so called ‘Columbia Three’ who were detained whilst visiting the FARC terrorist group in the jungle, this is difficult to fathom.