TUV leader makes vow over Westminster seats
THE TUV will only field candidates in safe unionist seats at the next General Election but will then stand candidates in every constituency across the Province for the Assembly elections, Jim Allister has pledged.
Outlining his election strategy, the TUV leader said that he would not split the unionist vote in marginal seats where his party’s presence could lead to a nationalist being elected.
Rather, the party will focus on safe unionist seats largely across the east of the Province in the General Election – which could be any time over the next 12 months – and then field candidates in every Assembly seat where the electoral rules allow voters to transfer between candidates.
Speaking to the News Letter from his headquarters on east Belfast’s Holywood Road, Mr Allister accepts that in a General Election – which operates on a first past the post system – three unionist candidates would split the vote because voters could not transfer to other unionist candidates.
He says that it will be a “selective approach to Westminster and a universal approach to the Assembly”.
“There are a few constituencies where you have the luxury of total choice – East Belfast would be one of them, North Antrim would be another, as well as South Antrim, East Antrim and Strangford.
“Of course in other constituencies you don’t have that luxury and, while it does behove all unionists to be sensible about that, I’m willing to reciprocate any sense and responsibility that others are prepared to show.
“I think that it is unfortunate that so far the Ulster Unionists have slammed the door on those issues. I don’t know whether the DUP will slam the door on those issues or not.”
Mr Allister says that he is “certainly willing” to have discussions with the DUP and UUP over a possible electoral pact for the non-safe unionist seats such as South Belfast and Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Mr Allister also says that he will stand in the Westminster election for North Antrim but does not categorically rule out standing for the Assembly if elected an MP, although he stresses: “I’ve always said that you can only do one job adequately. I certainly wouldn’t take two salaries, even if I did two jobs.”
The QC says that the TUV will have “suitable, capable candidates” in as many seats as the party decides to fight, come the next election.
He says that the party has selection processes which will be followed to establish who those candidates will be.
“It’s not for me to hand-pick individuals,” he says.
“In the Assembly elections, I would be very hopeful of benefiting from transfers, not least from Ulster Unionists, because from what I saw of Jim Nicholson’s votes, we were doing very nicely on the transfers.”
Mr Allister argues that the DUP, whose line about Sinn Fein topping the poll failed to secure them top position, will struggle to use that tactic in future elections.
“That was always inevitably going to fall flat on its face yet they kept digging and digging and digging.
“The other worry for them has to be that, having played that card so vociferously, it having failed so spectacularly, that when they play the matching card in 2011 about stopping Martin McGuinness (becoming First Minister) it likewise will fall flat on its face.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
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
