Democratic Unionist Member of Parliament Jim Allister QC has today said that it is the Ulster Unionist Party who should stand down in South Belfast if it is truly concerned about the SDLP or Sinn Fein.

Jim Allister said, “Why does Michael McGimpsey continue to contest South Belfast whenever he knows fine rightly that he cannot win the seat?  The Ulster Unionist Party are well aware of the fact that they are the smaller of the two unionist parties in South Belfast and cannot capture the constituency.  It is they who should step down in South Belfast.  If he is truly concerned about the SDLP or Sinn Fein, then it is the UUP as the minor unionist party who should stand down.

It is absolutely hypocritical for Michael McGimpsey to say that he fears the SDLP winning South Belfast whenever his Party Leader has suggested that unionists in Border constituencies should vote for the SDLP.  Mr McGimpsey’s own party wants unionists in some areas to cast their votes for united Irelanders yet he then expresses concern about South Belfast.  The UUP can’t have it both ways.

Our candidate – Jimmy Spratt – is the only candidate who can consolidate the unionist family.  Michael McGimpsey can’t even unite his own constituency association in support of his candidature.  How does he hope to unite unionism in South Belfast?  Michael McGimpsey has distanced himself from the mainstream of unionism through his staunch support for the Belfast Agreement.  He can’t expect the support of unionists whenever his party has done untold damage to unionism.

Mr McGimpsey knows that he is up against a candidate of the highest quality in the form of Jimmy Spratt.  He knows that Jimmy Spratt comes to this contest with none of the political baggage that he has.  Jimmy is a positive candidate who does not project the divisive and negative image Michael McGimpsey does.  Whilst Mr McGimpsey hurls personal insults, Jimmy Spratt and the DUP will continue to fight for the people of South Belfast on the everyday issues that matter to them”.