:: press release ::

October 21, 2008

UUP RECORD ON CO-OPERATION LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED 
  
East Antrim MLA Alastair Ross has said that in the forthcoming European Parliamentary election the main priority of the DUP will be to see Unionism at the top of the poll and to see two Unionists returned to represent Northern Ireland in Brussels and Strasbourg. 

Mr. Ross also contrasted the records of the two Unionist parties in encouraging co-operation.   Commenting Mr Ross said,  

“If Reg Empey and his party were serious about Unionist co-operation why did they not seek a meeting with the largest Unionist party rather than cavort with those on the fringes of Unionism? 

 
The DUP is committed to putting Unionism at the head of the poll and to seeing two Unionist MEPs elected to represent Northern Ireland. Unfortunately the task of returning two Unionists will be made more difficult by these fringe Unionists entering the field.  
  
The record of the two Unionist parties could not be clearer. We have encouraged closer co-operation and have sought at all times to put the interests of Northern Ireland first. Any fair or even-handed examination of the record would show that to be the case.  

In 2005, we offered the Ulster Unionists the opportunity to choose between Fermanagh and South Tyrone or South Belfast as a seat where they would run an unopposed Unionist candidate. They, in their conceited arrogance believed they had a divine right to both seats and refused our offer: as a consequence both seats where lost to nationalism. 
  
More recently, without any prompting from the UUP, we encouraged our supporters to transfer their number 2 votes to the UUP in the Enniskillen by-election. The UUP couldn’t bring themselves to use the words “Vote Foster 2” and indeed demanded that a clarification be published in the News Letter after that paper reported them as encouraging voters to give their number 2 to Mrs. Foster.  

 
The DUP stands ready and willing to work to encourage closer co-operation throughout the Unionist family. People know that our record on bringing Unionism together is far better than that of those who met last week."