No shortage of support for Ulster Unionist MP
AMID speculation that the Ulster Unionists' only MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, is to leave the party, the News Letter took to her North Down constituency to gauge the opinion of local voters.
At the weekend Lady Hermon, who has been MP for North Down since 2001, chose not to attend her party's conference because of her unhappiness at a pact with the Tories, and was instead spotted walking her dogs.
Speaking to the News Letter beforehand, she said she could not "go along and pretend to endorse" the electoral link-up.
Under the pact, the Conservatives and UUP will select joint candidates to fight Northern Ireland seats at the next General Election.
The Conservatives have selected Ian Parsley, who defected to the Tories from Alliance earlier this year, as their candidate for North Down.
The UUP has yet to make its choice.
Although Lady Hermon has declined to comment so far, it seems increasingly likely she will stand as an independent.
The News Letter visited Bangor's bustling Wednesday market to ask the people of North Down if Lady Hermon still had their support.
Stallholder Clive O'Neill told the News Letter he didn't believe Lady Hermon could be beaten.
"It's a waste of time for anyone else to stand against her," he said.
"She does so much work for North Down and is very well regarded here. I like her all the more because she speaks her mind."
Market shopper Jane Vannucci, from Bangor, said she believed Lady Hermon would be re-elected again by a comfortable majority if she decided to stand as an independent.
"I think local people here would vote for her. She's proved herself as being good for this area. You always see her about and supporting local good causes and charities."
Her friend, Rachel Gilliland, added: "She seems like a lovely lady."
Fruit and veg stallholder Jim Murdoch said: "I would vote for Lady Hermon because she's a straight talker and I like that. When she says she's going to do something, she does it and that's what she's doing now. She's a nice person, a real lady in every sense of the word."
Trader Gareth Dougan has had a stall in Bangor market for 35 years and said he backs Lady Sylvia completely.
"She's done the right thing. She's a MP because the people elected her as a member of the UUP, not of the Conservatives," he said.
"She wasn't happy and now she's made a stand and I really respect that."
Mr Dougan said he believed voters in North Down would be confused by the UUP-Tory pact.
"It is complicated and confusing, I think it will do the UUP a lot of harm. They have no identity now.
"People in North Down will vote for Lady Hermon because she's shown what she can do and people respect her. I have heard of Parsley but he's a defector and I don't think voters trust that."
Among such overwhelming support for Lady Hermon, the News Letter still managed to find one man who believed Parsley had a chance. Stallholder John Oare said: "One politician is much the same to me but I'm all for the young blood coming through."
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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