DUP councillors in Belfast have shown they are unworthy of the trust placed in them

The irony of a representative of the party founded by Ian Paisley branding my party as participating in a political stunt will be lost on no one.

The real issue is the decision of Mr Kingston and his party to abstain from the vote on setting the budget.

Any party which seeks to govern must demonstrate to the electorate its ability to make key decisions.

By their actions the DUP representatives at City Hall have clearly demonstrated to the unionist electorate of Belfast that they are unworthy of the trust which has been placed upon them.

It is clear from Mr Kingston’s comments that he agrees with Sinn Fein and the Alliance Party that a rates hike is necessary.

Therefore he should have the courage of his convictions and vote accordingly.

That would surely be the honourable course of action.

Last year, thanks to your newspaper, Mr Kingston and his colleagues at City Hall were forced to reverse their decision to support the funding of ex prisoner groups.

That incident was a clear demonstration of the ambiguous position of the Democratic Unionist Party on the key issues of concern to unionist voters.

A party of such ambiguity and political slight of hand cannot hope to be trusted by the electorate.

Graham Craig, Ulster Unionist councillor, Belfast City Hall