Ian Jnr aims to follow in father's footsteps
THE fiercely fought contest for the North Antrim Westminster constituency was launched in proper last night with the adoption of Ian Paisley Junior as DUP candidate.
Mr Paisley Jnr, who will seek to inherit the seat that his father held for 40 years, said that he will quit as an MLA if he is elected as MP.
At the DUP constituency association meeting in Ballymena where Mr Paisley Jnr secured the nomination, the former party leader – the Rev Ian Paisley – paid tribute to his son.
He said that he was sure of Mr Paisley Jnr's "dedication to duty, of his love for this country".
But the most formidable of the Paisley family's opponents, TUV leader Jim Allister, launched a swift attack on his DUP rival yesterday.
Mr Allister, who left the DUP in 2007 after the party went into power with Sinn Fein, said that he would make Mr Paisley Jnr's character a central part of his campaign.
"This is a man whose flawed judgment is infamous," Mr Allister said.
In his speech to local DUP members, in which he sought their support, Mr Paisley Jnr said that he had an "unparalleled" record as a public representative.
"I believe in public service," he said.
"I believe in delivering practical and beneficial changes for the people, I believe in carrying forward the great work that has been done over the past 40 years by the DUP in this constituency."
Mr Paisley Jnr said the forthcoming Westminster parliament "could be one of the most significant of a generation", in light of the prospect of a hung parliament.
"The DUP is not tied to any one party there. We will continue to do what is in the best interests of Northern Ireland.”
Mr Paisley Jnr said the DUP was the only party that had established full-time professional constituency offices all across Northern Ireland.
“In this constituency we run three such offices,” he said.
“Last year in this constituency I helped to bring back to constituents over 800,000 of payments of benefits, grants and assistance that otherwise would not have been here.”
And in a fresh pledge, Mr Paisley Jnr said that he was “determined if elected to be the full-time Member of Parliament, (and) not distracted with commitments in other elected assemblies”.
He said that upon election he would “immediately relinquish” his seat at Stormont.
“I have never had a double mandate and do not believe in starting that habit now,” he said.
The outgoing MP gave a farewell speech at the meeting, in which he went on to “congratulate Ian Paisley Jnr, my youngest son, upon his selection to contest this seat for the DUP”.
“He has fought and won elections here in North Antrim since 1996 and I look forward to joining him on the campaign trail and helping to fight and win this seat for our party,” said Mr Paisley.
But Mr Allister said that the selection of Mr Paisley Jnr meant “character and the capacity for sound judgment will now be central issues in the North Antrim campaign”.
Mr Allister attacked Mr Paisley Jnr for his role in the authorisation of PSNI officers to train Libyan officers.
“He judged it appropriate to dodge questions about his fellow DUP member and lobster fishing companion, Seymour Sweeney, by saying ‘I know of him’,” Mr Allister added.
“He was forced to resign as a Stormont Minister because he had become an embarrassment to the DUP.”
Mr Allister concluded: “His judgment has been shown up as poor.”
But Mr Paisley Jnr said the TUV “offer nothing, neither hard work locally or hope nationally”.
He added: “They offer a voice of ridicule, no plan for unionism other than to take us all back.
“Intentional or otherwise, a vote for the TUV will be about bringing back London/Dublin rule, joint authority, it will not be about preserving the Assembly – the consequence for Northern Ireland and for North Antrim would therefore be grim.”
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Monday 28 May 2012
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