UUP Manifesto 'Game Changer' - Elliot

The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has described the party's manifesto as a "game changer" during a bustling launch event on Thursday morning, writes Damien Whinnery.

Speaking to an almost 'full house' in the Linenhall Library in central Belfast, Tom Elliot - who was voted party leader last Autumn - accused the DUP of "cynical manipulation", and of "smashing the agreement".

However, Mr Elliot (pictured) - who replaced Sir Reg Empey after a disastrous showing in the Westminster elections - was quick to add that the party did not want to "dwell on the past" and wanted to address the "disconnect between the Assembly and the electorate".

During the event, the party issued an accompanying document with their new manifesto entitled '40 DUP Failures, 40 Ulster Unionist Achievements', which listed 'failures' such as Sinn Fein and the DUP's inability to entice Olympic Teams to Northern Ireland or complete local Government reforms.

The Manifesto, subtitled 'It's time to make Stormont work for you', focuses on stopping "clashes of mistrust" and what Mr Elliot describes as "silo mentality, fudge, stasis and growing disengagement".

He said the 'Game Change' would be achieved by a shift away from "the pursuit of an 'us and them' agenda" to focus instead on "building and promoting a post-conflict NI".

However, shortly after the publication, the DUP's Sammy Wilson responded saying that instead of lecturing others on unity Mr Elliott should first focus on his own party.

"Before Tom Elliott sets his sights on uniting the NI Executive he should set a goal of uniting his own party.

"The Ulster Unionist Party is a loose coalition of individuals united only by a mutual dislike of the DUP," he said, noting that "Ulster Unionist candidates spend as much time fighting party colleagues in a constituency as they do focused [on] actually fighting an election".

Mr Wilson added that the party was not fielding enough candidates to win the election and had no strategy or vision other than to attack anything the "DUP has achieved".

Confidence

Mr Elliot concluded his speech at the launch saying the election would be about "courage, trust and confidence", amid shouts and nods of approval from his fellow Ulster Unionists.

There was no reference to the fact that the audience didn't include any UK Conservatives - with whom the party very publicly campaigned at the 2010 Westminster election - with the UUP boss ending by issuing a rallying call: "On the 5th of May, I ask you to vote Ulster Unionist.

"Whether you do so with utter confidence or in trust, or whether it is with the courage to do the right thing in the face of the siren voices encouraging you to vote [for] four more years of missed opportunities and wasted millions."

(DW/BMcC)