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10/05/2011
DUP Links-Up With UUP In Castlereagh
Yesterday's expectations that the DUP would lose its long-term domination of Castlereagh Council in the local government elections now seem unfounded after a surprise development.
Jimmy Spratt, DUP Group Leader and Michael Henderson, UUP Group Leader on Castlereagh Borough Council announced last night: "The DUP and UUP within Castlereagh have a long history of working together and plans were laid prior to the recent election for a more formalised arrangement to cement this relationship.
"The results of the local government election within Casltereagh have also produced a Council chamber which does not truly reflect the unionist position within the Borough.
"The two parties have now agreed to form a single group within Council and will work together in the best interests of the community and ratepayers of Castlereagh," they said.
"The Councillors will sit together within Council and will take a common whip on decisions to ensure that Castlereagh's record of low rates and first-class services will be maintained."
However, Castlereagh Alliance Group Leader Geraldine Rice has condemned the DUP's move to form a pact after the DUP lost their overall majority on the council.
Cllr Geraldine Rice said: "This is a clear sign of panic from the DUP at the Alliance performance in Castlereagh and East Belfast. Sara Duncan and Michael Long topped their polls and so did Máire Hendron in Pottinger.
"Alliance also took the most votes in Belfast City Council's Victoria area and gained an extra seat there. We also gained extra seats in Castlereagh East and Central, which has removed the DUP majority in the Council.
"Peter Robinson is obviously deeply worried about this and hence the DUP's move to form a tribal pact with the UUP on the Council," she said this morning.
"The creation of this tribal pact also shows how much Peter Robinson wants a shared future by excluding non-Unionists from positions in Castlereagh.
"Under pressure the DUP always reverts to the tribal and negative politics of the past."
(BMcC/GK)
Jimmy Spratt, DUP Group Leader and Michael Henderson, UUP Group Leader on Castlereagh Borough Council announced last night: "The DUP and UUP within Castlereagh have a long history of working together and plans were laid prior to the recent election for a more formalised arrangement to cement this relationship.
"The results of the local government election within Casltereagh have also produced a Council chamber which does not truly reflect the unionist position within the Borough.
"The two parties have now agreed to form a single group within Council and will work together in the best interests of the community and ratepayers of Castlereagh," they said.
"The Councillors will sit together within Council and will take a common whip on decisions to ensure that Castlereagh's record of low rates and first-class services will be maintained."
However, Castlereagh Alliance Group Leader Geraldine Rice has condemned the DUP's move to form a pact after the DUP lost their overall majority on the council.
Cllr Geraldine Rice said: "This is a clear sign of panic from the DUP at the Alliance performance in Castlereagh and East Belfast. Sara Duncan and Michael Long topped their polls and so did Máire Hendron in Pottinger.
"Alliance also took the most votes in Belfast City Council's Victoria area and gained an extra seat there. We also gained extra seats in Castlereagh East and Central, which has removed the DUP majority in the Council.
"Peter Robinson is obviously deeply worried about this and hence the DUP's move to form a tribal pact with the UUP on the Council," she said this morning.
"The creation of this tribal pact also shows how much Peter Robinson wants a shared future by excluding non-Unionists from positions in Castlereagh.
"Under pressure the DUP always reverts to the tribal and negative politics of the past."
(BMcC/GK)
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