Traditional Unionist Voice Party Hold Conference

Party Leader Jim Allister Castigates DUP-Sinn Fein Executive

Nov 13, 2009

Jim Allister was the DUP's European MP, but quit the party in 2007 when Ian Paisley went into government with Sinn Fein. Now he is looking at the 2010 and 2011 elections

The Northern executive is the most "wretched and useless" government in western Europe, according to Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister.

He was addressing his party's annual conference at a Belfast hotel at the weekend.

Mr Allister formed the TUV after he left the DUP in 2007 over its decision to form a power-sharing administration with Sinn Fein.

European Election

Standing as a TUV candidate against the DUP in this year's European election, he won over 66,000 votes, around a third of the DUP vote, with the result that the DUP was pushed from first to third place.

North Antrim

He now plans to run in the 2010 general election against Ian Paisley in his north Antrim constituency.

"The people have caught them on and nowhere more so than in North Antrim where I look forward to the challenge, whichever Paisley dons the armour of Goliath," he said.

The reference to "whichever Paisley" refers to the present uncertainty over whether the DUP candidate will be former party leader and First Minister Ian Paisley, or his son, Ian Paisley Jr.

Farce

According to the Irish Times, he called the Executive an "expensive farce" and called on his former colleague, DUP First Minister Peter Robinson, to "cut Sinn Fein adrift":

"“It’s time for Peter Robinson to face reality: his coalition with IRA/Sinn Féin has failed and will not work. Sinn Féin has more than proved itself unfit for government; yet, Peter clings desperately to this sinking ship. It’s time he recovered some dignity," said Mr Allister.

Power-Sharing

Mr Allister has long opposed the presence of what he calls "terrorists in government."

Although the Provisional IRA decommissioned in 2005, Mr Allister rejects the idea that republicans have given up political violence.

He argues for an end to the present system of mandatory coalition which guarantees the four largest parties a place in the executive, effectively ensuring a permanent place for Sinn Fein.

He regards the DUP's decision to share power as a betrayal of traditional unionism, hence his party's name.

According to BBC News, Mr Allister told party delegates that "TUV is certainly opposed to terrorists in government, but as we've often said we are not opposed to shared government through the democratic route of voluntary coalition".

Bridgehead

The TUV presently has no representation either at Stormont or Westminster, instead having only a small number of councillors.

The main aim of Allister and his party will be to rectify this through possibly winning North Antrim, or, more likely, having several Assembly members elected to Stormont in the next election due in 2011.Sources: BBC, Irish Times, Traditional Unionist Voice

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