Letter: One unionist party is well capable of delivering and sustaining confidence and accommodating diversity in social and economic issues

He appears to be calling for a fourth unionist party for working class unionists, middle class Catholics and migrants.

As things stand, unionists are unable to reverse being stuck in a doldrum of political inertia, division and disarray.

The current three-party set up of political unionism is top heavy with split personalities and self-important egotists. Immune from discipline, they are a law unto themselves.

I can see Mr Ferrin has good intentions and genuine concern for those he refers to as working class and Labour.

But I disagree with the suggestion that there is no place for Labour leaning people in a single unionist party.

From my young unionist days, I recall the Unionist Labour Association with fond memories of stalwarts, Senator Nelson Elder, Billy Clulow, David Bell and Davy Nelson.

I regularly meet up with former MLA colleagues who are staunch socialists but committed unionists.

I can say categorically that then as now without working class support, political unionism would fall apart. Across the wide spectrum bridging all classes and generations there is a groundswell supporting unionist political unity.

The unionist family can count. You do the maths! Divide unionists, split a narrow margin maximised vote between three parties and the result is a Sinn Fein victory in next May's elections.

A newly branded unified single unionist party stops the rot. Put together it restores credibility, invigorates respect, dignity and integrity and wins for unionism.

I can assure Mr Ferrin that one unionist party, not three, is well capable of delivering and sustaining confidence and accommodating diversity in social and economic issues.

Cometh one party, cometh one leader, one policy, one discipline, one loyalty and one unionism.

David McNarry, ex Ulster Unionist and Ukip MLA for Strangford