Allister gives view on Upper Bann

Pacemaker Press Belfast 22-04-2015: Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice pictured before the Launching of its party's manifesto, at Dunadry Hotel outside Belfast.
Picture By: Arthur Allison. — Pacemaker Press Belfast 22-04-2015: Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice pictured before the Launching of its party's manifesto, at Dunadry Hotel outside Belfast. Picture By: Arthur Allison.

However, Jim Allister promised there will be a TUV candidate in Upper Bann in next year’s Assembly election.

In a statement the TUV leader said: “In this election we have had to reserve our resources with a view to maximising our impact next year when I hope to gain the help in the Assembly of a colleague from Upper Bann.

“The question this year is to whom should TUV supporters lend their vote.

“It is not for me to be prescriptive about this matter, leaving individual TUV supporters to make up their own mind.

“I am aware, though, of a prevalent view that the least deserving of support are those who paraded themselves as great opponents of the Belfast Agreement, only to become its implementers and sustainers.

“David Simpson toppled David Trimble in 2005 on a solemn manifesto pledge that mandatory coalition was ‘out of the question’.

“Within two years he was voting for precisely that and has supported terrorists in government ever since.

“Some might, therefore, conclude that at least the UUP, though utterly wrong in peddling the Belfast Agreement, was more straightforward with the electorate.”