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11/06/2009
Allister Hits Back At Paisley
Traditional Unionist Jim Allister has refuted Ian Paisley's claims he would get a "hiding" should he contest the DUP stalwart's North Antrim parliamentary seat.
Mr Allister, who left the DUP over its power-sharing agreement with Sinn Fein, said he would let the electorate decide his fate.
He is set to stand against Mr Paisley in the next general election. Mr Paisley has been an MP for the North Antrim constituency for almost 40 years.
Mr Allister said he would challenge the former First Minister, after polling over 66,000 first preference votes as a Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) candidate at the European elections.
However, Mr Paisley said the TUV founder was "very welcome to come and get a hiding in North Antrim".
Responding to Mr Allister's criticism of the DUP's performance at the polls, Mr Paisley retorted that his former colleague had lost, as the Democratic Unionists still took an MEP seat.
Describing Mr Paisley's words as "hallow", former MEP Mr Allister said: "Ian Paisley tries to claim it as a triumph. He says there was no defeat, everyone knows there was a defeat,
"If the DUP are in the business of sleepwalking out of Monday into the future, well I'm quite content that the good people of North Antrim and elsewhere will continue to give us the resounding type of result there was on Monday.
"What we need is a system where you can have opposition, people who are both in and out of government," he said.
"A voluntary coalition where those that are in government are bound by policies that they all support."
(PR/JM)
Mr Allister, who left the DUP over its power-sharing agreement with Sinn Fein, said he would let the electorate decide his fate.
He is set to stand against Mr Paisley in the next general election. Mr Paisley has been an MP for the North Antrim constituency for almost 40 years.
Mr Allister said he would challenge the former First Minister, after polling over 66,000 first preference votes as a Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) candidate at the European elections.
However, Mr Paisley said the TUV founder was "very welcome to come and get a hiding in North Antrim".
Responding to Mr Allister's criticism of the DUP's performance at the polls, Mr Paisley retorted that his former colleague had lost, as the Democratic Unionists still took an MEP seat.
Describing Mr Paisley's words as "hallow", former MEP Mr Allister said: "Ian Paisley tries to claim it as a triumph. He says there was no defeat, everyone knows there was a defeat,
"If the DUP are in the business of sleepwalking out of Monday into the future, well I'm quite content that the good people of North Antrim and elsewhere will continue to give us the resounding type of result there was on Monday.
"What we need is a system where you can have opposition, people who are both in and out of government," he said.
"A voluntary coalition where those that are in government are bound by policies that they all support."
(PR/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry in the southeast at first otherwise widespread light rain or drizzle for most. It will turn mostly dry towards dawn, although a few patches of light rain or drizzle continuing, mainly in the southwest. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
