Nigel Dodds MP said:
“The latest outburst from UCUNF attacking the idea of Unionist Unity is classic McNarry – sound and fury signifying nothing. One suspects this is a silly attempt to move the news agenda on from the farce that is the UCUNF selection process particularly in South Antrim.
The record of the DUP on the idea of Unionists working together to win seats is clear and consistent. It is not the leader of the DUP who is holding back unity, but rather the unofficial leader of the UUP, David Trimble. I myself stood aside for an Ulster Unionist candidate in 1997 because we did not want to risk North Belfast being won by a nationalist.
The overwhelming majority of people in the pro-Union community want to see both Unionist parties working together to ensure victory at the polls. No amount of abuse directed at the DUP from David McNarry will stop us from working for unity.
David McNarry might be happy to see Gildernew and Alasdair McDonnell representing seats that should be held by a Unionist, but I am not and we make no apology for working to deliver them back to the pro-Union fold.”