'DUP had to warn electorate'

I read with amazement the statement in the ‘MAIL’ from the UUP accusing the DUP of telling lies. Obviously their definition of a lie and mine are at odds, so I’ll leave it to your readers to decide.

The offending leaflet was taken verbatim from an opinion poll conducted by the Belfast Telegraph and printed in the paper on Tuesday, May 4. It showed the DUP just four points ahead of Sinn Fein. When you consider that opinion polls can have a margin of error of up to four percent this was too close for comfort. Indeed, it encouraged Sinn Fein to such an extent that they diverted extra resources into Upper Bann for one last push to get them over the line.

Under the circumstances the DUP had to respond and warn the unionist electorate of the importance of turning out to register their vote.

As to the allegation of sectarianism this is one of those terms that people continue to bandy about - like sexist, racist and homophobic, without offering a precise definition. Quite often they become terms of abuse that are allowed to go unchallenged.

Like it or not elections in Northern Ireland have been, and continue to be border polls. Anyone who believes otherwise should not be in politics.

People continue to talk about ‘bread and butter issues’, but this is the real bread and butter issue. At the moment the British economy is ‘sick’, but the Irish economy is ‘sick onto death’.

This should be food for thought for those unionists who continue to act irresponsibly, and fail to turn out and register their vote. They should consider that one day they might waken to find themselves in the Irish Republic. They need to relearn what side their bread is buttered on, or they’ll end up eating it dry.

As for the election itself, one can only wonder what the future holds for the UUP and the TUV. I think in time, they will realise, not only are they made for each other, but they need each other.

I have always felt there is a marriage on the cards there. It may not be a marriage made in heaven, more a marriage of convenience.

Frankly it has got to the stage where one is almost lost for words in relation to the TUV. They continue to chant their mantra ‘no terrorists in government’ while campaigning for and voting for the UUP, the party that not only put them there, but had it enshrined in the Belfast Agreement.

That this position is ridiculous in the extreme doesn’t trouble them, because it doesn’t seem to register.

To add insult to injury they continue to claim they are the party of ‘principle and integrity’. That they don’t see any contradiction in this would indicate that their meaning is based on a very loose interpretation - once again we’re back to definition.

The UUP continue to find the attentions of the TUV embarrassing, but they’ll use them as long as it delivers voters. However, a casual flirtation is one thing, but a full-blown courtship is another. Then they do say ‘needs must’. I wouldn’t rule anything out, even a shotgun marriage.

If that happens we could end up with ‘The TUV Ulster Unionist and Conservative Party New Force’.

Try getting your tongue round that. Even worse, try explaining it to the electorate.

EDITOR'S NOTE: - Just for the sake of a fair representation of what we reported, Mr Hamilton's statement accused the DUP of 'propaganda and scaremongering'.