Ford should be under no illusions on how UUP will vote

Ulster Unionist MLA for South Antrim, Danny Kinahan has sought to clarify several matters dealt with in an interview with David Ford published in the Belfast Telegraph on Thursday. Commenting Mr Kinahan said:

"David Ford states in the course of this interview that he doesn't know how the UUP will be voting on the appointment of a Justice Minister. If that is the case either his memory or his hearing is deficient. He should be under no illusions about how my party will be voting - we will vote against any attempt to appoint David Ford a minister.

"The Alliance Party has no democratic entitlement to Ministerial office. The electorate has spoken on the question of David Ford's entitlement to the job of Minister and we intend to uphold their wishes. Rather than simply agreeing to a DUP/SF elected candidate - we will be taking a democratic decision.

Asked about the potentially odd relationship between him as Justice Minister appointed by two parties described as "extremes" by the Alliance Party until recently, Mr Ford replied "I am not sure we used the terms extremes".

Well, I can help David - During the course of his 2007 Leader's address at Alliance Party Conference, Mr Ford used the term 'extremes'. He also used it during his address in 2005 and 2002 - now that they are appointing him to the ministry however he seems to have changed his tune. Talk about giving up your principles.

"It is very odd that Mr Ford should forget a term that he has frequently used to describe Sinn Fein and the DUP when a Ministerial car is on offer.

"The Alliance Party has sold any principles they ever had for the promise of Ministerial office. I look forward to the coming election where the public will have their say on the cynical power hunger of the Alliance, set against the principled stand taken by the Ulster Unionist Party."