Allister scornfully rejects SDLP attack
24 January 2009
Statement by Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister:-
“I will take it as a compliment that, in his struggle to make himself relevant to the upcoming European Election, Alban Maginness’ pitch at the SDLP Conference was to attack me.
In choosing to attack my record he showed just how little he knows about what goes on in the European Parliament, but if he wants to talk records I’ll happily pitch mine against that of the SDLP, the last time they held a seat in Europe. In the whole 5 years from 1999 to 2004 John Hume managed to speak only 11 times in the Parliament. Since 2004 I have made 200 speeches in Parliament on behalf of Northern Ireland. So, if that’s his best point, his will be a pretty poor campaign.
As for his swearing of allegiance to the socialist banner in the European Parliament, it’s not a cause anyone who wishes to see economic prosperity restored would wish to embrace. The socialist dogma in Europe is more regulation, more restraint, more Europe, whereas business and our economy desperately needs less regulation, less control and, very definitely, less Europe.
Alban Maginness stands for further subservience to the EU, with unquestioning acceptance of the Lisbon Treaty and surrendering our last vestiges of financial independence and monetary control by joining the Euro. I oppose both as abject folly and the surest route to national decline and deeper economic crisis. As for his espousal of the cul-de-sac of the mythical “all-Ireland economy”, that too would lead us to ruin.”
