Cobain demands straight answer from sacked Minister Poots

Should pro-Union voters transfer to pro-Union candidates? Yes or No?

UUP Chief Whip Fred Cobain MLA has responded to the latest contorted comments from sacked Minister Edwin Poots regarding the Euro election.

Mr. Cobain said, "For sacked DUP Minister Edwin Poots to accuse anyone of being 'wheeled out' is deeply ironic. Ever since being dumped from the Executive by Peter Robinson, Edwin Poots has been consistently used by the DUP as a mouthpiece for a wide range of strange causes. But this is surely the strangest - Edwin Poots announcing that the DUP refuses to endorse the UUP's proposal that at next year's Euro elections pro-Union voters should transfer to pro-Union candidates.

"I suppose it is understandable that Edwin Poots find this all very uncomfortable. He did, after all, campaign for Jim Allister in 2004. It was Edwin Poots and his DUP colleagues who told the people of Northern Ireland that Jim Allister was the man to carry the DUP message to Brussels. And now, Mr. Poots appears like a frightened rabbit caught in headlights whenever Jim Allister's name is mentioned. Well, it was the DUP which created the TUV, further splintering the pro-Union vote. The UUP has shown real leadership in promoting co-operation amongst pro-union parties and voters by encouraging transfers. We await Mr. Poots and the DUP accepting our lead.

"In his 3 paragraph press release, Edwin Poots refused to support my Party's call for pro-Union voters to transfer to pro-Union candidates. The question remains - Edwin, do you want pro-Union voters to transfer to pro-Union candidates or do you not? It is a simple question. It doesn't take 3 paragraphs to answer. It is yes or no. Edwin, which is it? Yes or no"