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11/06/2009
Allister Hits Back At Paisley
Traditional Unionist Jim Allister has refuted Ian Paisley's claims he would get a "hiding" should he contest the DUP stalwart's North Antrim parliamentary seat.
Mr Allister, who left the DUP over its power-sharing agreement with Sinn Fein, said he would let the electorate decide his fate.
He is set to stand against Mr Paisley in the next general election. Mr Paisley has been an MP for the North Antrim constituency for almost 40 years.
Mr Allister said he would challenge the former First Minister, after polling over 66,000 first preference votes as a Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) candidate at the European elections.
However, Mr Paisley said the TUV founder was "very welcome to come and get a hiding in North Antrim".
Responding to Mr Allister's criticism of the DUP's performance at the polls, Mr Paisley retorted that his former colleague had lost, as the Democratic Unionists still took an MEP seat.
Describing Mr Paisley's words as "hallow", former MEP Mr Allister said: "Ian Paisley tries to claim it as a triumph. He says there was no defeat, everyone knows there was a defeat,
"If the DUP are in the business of sleepwalking out of Monday into the future, well I'm quite content that the good people of North Antrim and elsewhere will continue to give us the resounding type of result there was on Monday.
"What we need is a system where you can have opposition, people who are both in and out of government," he said.
"A voluntary coalition where those that are in government are bound by policies that they all support."
(PR/JM)
Mr Allister, who left the DUP over its power-sharing agreement with Sinn Fein, said he would let the electorate decide his fate.
He is set to stand against Mr Paisley in the next general election. Mr Paisley has been an MP for the North Antrim constituency for almost 40 years.
Mr Allister said he would challenge the former First Minister, after polling over 66,000 first preference votes as a Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) candidate at the European elections.
However, Mr Paisley said the TUV founder was "very welcome to come and get a hiding in North Antrim".
Responding to Mr Allister's criticism of the DUP's performance at the polls, Mr Paisley retorted that his former colleague had lost, as the Democratic Unionists still took an MEP seat.
Describing Mr Paisley's words as "hallow", former MEP Mr Allister said: "Ian Paisley tries to claim it as a triumph. He says there was no defeat, everyone knows there was a defeat,
"If the DUP are in the business of sleepwalking out of Monday into the future, well I'm quite content that the good people of North Antrim and elsewhere will continue to give us the resounding type of result there was on Monday.
"What we need is a system where you can have opposition, people who are both in and out of government," he said.
"A voluntary coalition where those that are in government are bound by policies that they all support."
(PR/JM)
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The battle lines have been drawn as the DUP's Ian Paisley jnr has been confirmed as the party's candidate to contest his father's North Antrim seat in the general election. After being selected by the DUP on Monday night he will be standing against his former party colleague, Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister (pictured) in the poll.
North Antrim Poll Battle Looms
The battle lines have been drawn as the DUP's Ian Paisley jnr has been confirmed as the party's candidate to contest his father's North Antrim seat in the general election. After being selected by the DUP on Monday night he will be standing against his former party colleague, Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister (pictured) in the poll.
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Allister Confirms North Antrim Bid
Unionist hardliner Jim Allister has been formally selected by the TUV to contest Ian Paisley's North Antrim parliamentary seat at the next General Election. Mr Allister, (pictured) the Traditional Unionist Voice leader, said he was looking forward to challenging his former DUP colleague "immensely".
Allister Confirms North Antrim Bid
Unionist hardliner Jim Allister has been formally selected by the TUV to contest Ian Paisley's North Antrim parliamentary seat at the next General Election. Mr Allister, (pictured) the Traditional Unionist Voice leader, said he was looking forward to challenging his former DUP colleague "immensely".
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02 March 2010
Dr Paisley To Leave Commons
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Dr Paisley To Leave Commons
Ian Paisley will not contest his Westminster parliamentary seat at the next general election. He has been the MP for North Antrim since 1970. It is widely expected his son, Ian Junior, will vie for the Commons seat. He is yet to be formally nominated by the DUP.
30 March 2007
DUP member resigns over power-sharing decision
A founding member of the Democratic Unionist Party has resigned following the party’s decision to share power with Sinn Fein. Roy Gillespie is the third member to resign in recent weeks. Confirmation that Mr Gillespie and his wife Ruby were leaving the party was provided in a letter sent to Ian Paisley Jr.
DUP member resigns over power-sharing decision
A founding member of the Democratic Unionist Party has resigned following the party’s decision to share power with Sinn Fein. Roy Gillespie is the third member to resign in recent weeks. Confirmation that Mr Gillespie and his wife Ruby were leaving the party was provided in a letter sent to Ian Paisley Jr.
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