UCUNF spent big in failed campaign
THE UUP–Tory alliance spent almost twice as much on its failed general election campaign as any rival party, it has emerged.
The UCUNF alliance – which both candidates for the Ulster Unionist leadership have pledged to scrap – spent 126,500.
Yet only 16,600 of that figure came from the UUP, which spent 251,000 on its 2005 campaign.
The news comes as UUP leadership contender Basil McCrea has accused three senior colleagues of "dancing to the DUP's tune" by supporting a pact with Peter Robinson's party.
As the UUP leadership contest threatens to become acrimonious, Mr McCrea denounced chief whip Fred Cobain, deputy leader Danny Kennedy and veteran MLA David McNarry for their stance on unionist unity.
All three are backing the Fermanagh assemblyman Tom Elliott for leader.
Last week Mr Cobain said that if the Tories do not change the rules on choosing the first minister his party may be forced to do a deal with the DUP.
But Mr McCrea accused Mr Cobain of "following too closely the DUP line" by attempting to "stop Sinn Fein".
"There is no possibility of Martin McGuinness becoming first minister unless there are talks about unionist unity.
"People such as McNarry, Cobain, Kennedy ... are dancing to the DUP's tune.
"Tom Elliott ought to make his position absolutely clear – there should be no cooperation with the DUP as this will lead to the destruction of the UUP."
He added: "Our electorate would not wear it (unity with the DUP) and you cannot go slightly for unity.
"If you have some sort of deal with the DUP, it means that you can't go and criticise your partners, even if you feel that is the right thing to do."
Asked if he would completely rule out any electoral agreement with Peter Robinson's party, Mr McCrea said: "Absolutely. I will engage with all parties on topics of mutual interest but will not enter pacts for party-political or sectarian reasons."
Mr McCrea also said that he would "absolutely be happy" to serve under Mr Elliott if he wins the leadership.
"I have heard it said that should I win, senior members of the Elliott camp – perhaps 25 per cent of the party – would leave," he said. "The party has to make a decision and I am happy to put my trust in the decision of the Ulster Unionist Council and support whoever is elected."
Mr Cobain is out of the country on holiday.
But Mr McNarry, the foremost UUP proponent of closer ties with the DUP, hit back at Mr McCrea: "Whoever the Ulster Unionist Council choose to be their leader will still have to work with the current 17 MLAs and it would be foolish of anyone aspiring to be a leader to be engaging in personality-bashing and untruths.
"Untruths because Basil more than most has recognised the fight I take to the DUP in the assembly debates and seen how they respond to me and their attacks on me."
Mr Kennedy said that he "does not want to engage in personality politics".
"The debate is under way and I think the best way this is handled is through the series of meetings for party activists, rather than through the megaphone diplomacy of the media."
Mr Kennedy said it was "a misnomer to describe it as unionist unity as even Lord Bannside had discounted the notion of unionist unity – I'm about unionist cooperation".
Yesterday's spending figures for the election campaign, published by the Electoral Commission, show that Sinn Fein was the second highest spender in 2010 – with 64,000 invested in its campaign (compared to 44,000 in 2005).
The DUP spent just under 60,000 while the SDLP's bill was around 52,000.
Both the latter parties spent considerably less than they did in 2005, when the DUP invested around 107,000 and the SDLP 154,000.
The Alliance Party's spend of just under 24,000 was slightly up on its 21,100 bill for 2005.
The TUV spent just over 11,000 in its first Westminster foray.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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