Unionism is about working together

At the same time, another Ulster Unionist Party candidate declined to encourage inter-unionist transfers.

The comments are juvenile, self-centred and arrogant.

Unionism is strongest when it works together.

The DUP, although the larger party, stood aside for Tom Elliott in my constituency.

Tom would not have won that seat had every DUP voter took the same approach as Doug Beattie.

The reason I left the UUP was because of Mike Nesbitt’s weak leadership and blow-with-the-wind attitude.

Rather than condemn the foolish comments by his candidate and admit that Doug Beattie dropped the ball, Mike Nesbitt has stayed silent.

His silence seems to be an endorsement.

I know many UUP members across Northern Ireland who are infuriated by the comments and are waiting on Mike to come off the fence.

Unionism is about working together. These candidates’ comments reflect an arrogance which calls into question if they’re even unionists or just career candidates trying to climb into Stormont.

Raymond Farrell, Former Fermanagh UUP councillor