Michelle O'Neill says DUP has blocked her from PM meeting in Glasgow

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has "blocked" them from attending an economic summit involving Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

The Sinn Féin vice-president and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister were both invited to attend the National Economic Council in Glasgow on Friday alongside other devolved leaders.

The move follows unionist anger over Sinn Féin's involvement in protests which prevented a contentious Orange Order march in Portadown from passing along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road.

O'Neill described the move as "reckless and irresponsible" and meant people in Northern Ireland "will not be represented".

"This is a reactive stunt, driven by the DUP's own internal pressures and electoral problems," she said in a statement posted online.

Little-Pengelly said the concerns arising from O'Neill's conduct and the "anger and hurt felt by many people across Northern Ireland, cannot simply be ignored or minimised".

She said the decision comes after stopping a separate planned engagement with the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly.

"I have requested a separate meeting with the Prime Minister to ensure Northern Ireland's interests, including the urgent budgetary and funding challenges facing the Executive, continue to be represented directly," she added.

It emerges as a meeting of the DUP's ruling committee was due to take place on Thursday morning.

Party officers were expected to consider whether to withdraw the deputy first minister or cease official engagements with O'Neill, sources told the BBC's Nolan Live programme.

O'Neill and other senior Sinn Féin figures have been interviewed by police investigating last month's unnotified demonstrations in Portadown, with unionists accusing the party of acting unlawfully.

The Sinn Féin deputy leader has defended her involvement, saying it was the "right thing to do".

The prime minister revived the National Economic Council over the summer to encourage greater collaboration between the nations and regions.

In a statement posted online on Thursday , O'Neill said: "The deputy first minister has decided to block representation from here at a major political event, which would include meeting with the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, and the British prime minister.

"The Economic Forum is taking place tomorrow in Glasgow, and this reckless and irresponsible approach of Emma Little-Pengelly means the people of the north will not be represented.

"This is a reactive stunt, driven by the DUP's own internal pressures and electoral problems."

Party leader Robinson said last week that he was "sorry" to see Lockhart quit the DUP's officer board but added that she remained "a key part of our team".

Speaking on the BBC's The View programme, the Robinson said the party had reached a democratic decision on how to deal with the Drumcree fallout.

He questioned whether it was necessary to "punish everyone in Northern Ireland when actually we should be punishing those who broke the law".

"We have considered all options and we keep all options on the table," he added.