:: press release ::

ROSS COMMENTS ON TORY / UUP LINK 

East Antrim MLA Alastair Ross has been commenting on the announcement today that the Ulster Unionist Party and the Conservatives are to strengthen links. Mr Ross said that the electorate already had the opportunity to vote for both political parties in Northern Ireland and have consistently rejected both in recent years.  

Commenting from his Larne Office this morning Mr Ross said,  

“Since 2003 the Northern Ireland electorate have recognised that the DUP the strongest voice in defending and promoting the Union. Both the UUP and Conservative Party stood candidates in numerous elections since and have seen their votes slide as the DUP vote grows.  

Let us not forget the policy positions held by both parties over recent years and the consequences for Unionism in holding such views. In fact both main Parties at Westminster have at times adopted policies or promoted measures which have been detrimental to the Union or against the interests of unionists in the Province.  Currently both Labour and the Conservative Party have policies which many unionists in Northern Ireland would neither support nor endorse. 

The DUP Westminster team of MP’s and Peers have maintained good relations with the Conservative Party and often vote with them on issues in the House of Commons. This strong relationship has been illustrated recently in East Antrim when senior Conservative MP Owen Patterson visited DUP representatives in the constituency as a guest of Sammy Wilson MP.   

At the same time it is essential to have the freedom to make judgements and take decisions based on the individual merits of each issue. At all times our Party must be able to put the interests of the Union and Northern Ireland first, not the preferences of another political party.

Our Party has been in regular discussions with the leadership of the Conservatives and we also talk regularly to the government.  This enables us to negotiate the best possible deal for Northern Ireland at all times and not be restrained by the whip of either of the two largest parties.  

The increasing prospect of a hung Parliament makes the DUP stronger than ever, and as recent events show, having a strong bloc of DUP Parliamentarians acting cohesively will be very significant.”