“The selection of Mr Paisley Jnr will mean character and the capacity for sound judgement will now be central issues in the North Antrim campaign. This is a man whose flawed judgement is infamous: when he authorised PSNI officers to train Gaddaffi’s militia Nigel Dodds properly asked what planet he lived on?; he judged it appropriate to dodge questions about his fellow DUP member and lobster fishing companion, Seymour Sweeney, by saying “I know of him”; following the Causeway, Ballee lands and Church Street office controversies, he was forced to resign as a Stormont Minister because he had become an embarrassment to the DUP. His judgement had been shown up as poor, and his excessive and at times inappropriate lobbying for a controversial property developer – and party member – had been uncovered. Though Seymour Sweeney lamented his departure from government as “a very sad day” few, even DUP members, agreed.

“Being an MP requires a capacity for sound, not flawed, judgement and, therefore, I look forward to debating with Ian Junior why for years he ducked and dived over his relationship with Seymour Sweeney and why he made himself his chief lobbyist. If DUP colleagues, like Nigel Dodds, have had occasion to question his judgement, why should North Antrim voters support him?”