PUP leader joins UUP's Assembly Group

Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine has today revealed that he is to join the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group when the local executive properly reconvenes.

The announcement has caused outrage within the DUP who have claimed that by linking with the PUP, the UUP were "allying" themselves with terrorism.

Speaking earlier, Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader, Peter Robinson said that the UVF, which is closely linked to the PUP, has been proven to still be actively involved in criminality by the IMC.

He said: "One that we see not as a pragmatic matter but as a matter of principle."

DUP leader, Ian Paisley, added that his party would not be associated with terrorism and said: "If people want to be allied with any form of terrorism whether it be Protestant or Roman Catholic or something else they have no right in the government here."

However, Ulster Unionist leader, Sir Reg Empey defended the move, saying that it would cost Sinn Fein a ministerial seat.

He said that following the 2003 Assembly elections the Ulster Unionist Party was the second largest party in the Assembly with 27 seats.

A few weeks later, the MP for Lagan Valley Jeffrey Donaldson defected to the DUP, the result of which was the promotion of Sinn Fein to second place in the Assembly.

Prior to David Ervine’s decision, Sinn Fein would have gained an extra Executive place at the expense of unionists, and the Executive would also loose its unionist majority.

Sir Reg Empey said: “For the first time since the Assembly was established in 1998, unionism will be punching its full weight. Unionists will be taking positions back from Sinn Fein. None of this will matter of course, unless the conditions are created that will lead to the restoration of devolution. That is why we have tabled a proposal for the creation of a restoration of devolution committee at Stormont so that we can establish if the conditions can be created for progress or not.”

Assembly speaker Eileen Bell has today said that she will rule on the move on Tuesday, however she stated that she would take counsel before making a final decision.

Commenting on today's move, PUP leader David Ervine said: "I think I'm doing a very logical, shrewd political move."

"One that perhaps people should have thought of long ago, that if you move across to bolster your own community - unionism - that our community will then have greater confidence in moving on to what is the next phase of the peace process," he said.

(EF/SP)