Members welcome to join: DUP
IT is up to David McNarry whether he joins the DUP, Nigel Dodds has said.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics show about Mr McNarry’s resignation from the UUP Assembly group, the DUP deputy leader Mr Dodds said that his party was open to new members.
Asked whether the DUP would allow Mr McNarry to join, Mr Dodds said that there was “always a welcome for those who want to join us” if they could sign up to the DUP’s policies and ethos.
But Mr Dodds, who like Mr McNarry is an Orangeman and a vocal proponent of unionist unity, added that it was “a matter for David McNarry”.
The North Belfast MP also insisted that the inter-party talks had been “private but not secret” but declined to give specific details about what had been discussed and who had been present at the meetings.
And, speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Inside Politics, DUP Assemblyman Simon Hamilton — who stood against Mr McNarry in Strangford — said that the differences between the DUP and UUP were “becoming increasingly synthetic”.
“Whether it’s individuals moving from the UUP to the DUP or tens and tens of thousands of former Ulster Unionist voters moving over, this process is something that, whether Basil likes it or not, voters are making their choice and unionist unity is happening organically already.”
Asked if the DUP would be “courting” Mr McNarry now and offering him the DUP whip, Mr Hamilton said: “David McNarry is still a member of the Ulster Unionist Party as far as I can tell.
“That is a matter entirely for David, where he goes.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
