Jamie Bryson to manage Ruth Patterson's election campaign

Ms Patterson added that their hearts are “beating in exactly the same place”.

The south Belfast councillor resigned from the DUP last year in protest against former First Minister Peter Robinson’s special advisor Emma Pengelly being ‘parachuted’ into the Assembly seat being vacated in her constituency by retiring MLA Jimmy Spratt.

She received 3,800 first preference votes in the area in the last Assembly election but narrowly missed winning a seat.

Mr Bryson confirmed to the News Letter that he would act as her election agent for the May Assembly election.

“We will launch our policies in the first week of February,” he said.

As to suggestions that he might be co-opted to her seat on Belfast City Council should she be elected, he replied: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

Ms Patterson confirmed: “He will be my campaign manager. We will sit down to discuss our policies and vision for the future of south Belfast.”

The possibility of Mr Bryson being co-opted into Ms Patterson’s Belfast City Council seat should she become an MLA “has not been discussed”.

“He has earned a lot of respect and credibility over recent months and is very strategically minded,” she said.

Mr Bryson made lengthy allegations to the Stormont Finance Committee about political corruption in propery deals.

“I know he will serve me well and I know he will deliver,” said Ms Patterson.

“Jamie and I’s hearts are beating in exactly the same place as supporters of the loyalist, unionist, Protestant people of Northern Ireland.”

She added that they will support “anyone else” who asks for their help.