Candidate declares South Belfast a ‘two-horse’ race

UUP Westminster candidate Michael McGimpsey has claimed he is “forging ahead” of DUP opponent Jimmy Spratt in the race to garner unionist votes in South Belfast.

Mr McGimpsey said he had “scientific and detailed analysis” of 22 areas in the constituency which showed that he was in front with nearly 33% of the total vote, SDLP deputy leader Alistair McDonnell on nearly 32% and Mr Spratt trailing on 20%.

“South Belfast is now very firmly a two-horse race with Spratt taking a breather by the embankment, having achieved his objective of undermining Unionism,” Mr McGimpsey said.

“People in the constituency need to turn out to vote as never before, the SDLP are not far behind me thanks to the DUP splitting the vote.”

Last month, Mr McGimpsey denied his election campaign had been dealt a blow when it was confirmed that a South Belfast branch of the party had disbanded because its members want to back Mr Spratt.

Branch president, Margaret Clarke, who works for outgoing UUP MP Martin Smyth, said the 15 members of the Willowfield branch did not support the party's candidate Michael McGimpsey.

One week prior to this, former UUP leader Lord Molyneaux and Mr Smyth were photographed with Mr Spratt. This was seized on by the DUP as expressing support for the former chief of the RUC Federation.

Mr McGimpsey denied that the photograph was an endorsement, “despite DUP spin”.

(MB/SP)