John McCallister addresses Comber branch of the UUP

He emphasized Ulster Unionists had always been passionate about the Union this was now demonstrated clearly through the new link with the Conservatives now giving Northern Ireland the aspiration to be at the big table and participating in national government. Cameron has shown he is committed to the Union and wants Northern Ireland fully represented and involved up to government level.As an early supporter of the Conservative link John McCalister said he was motivated by a desire for more involvement in national politics.For too long Northern Ireland has not been represented at the top table of Government.While power hasn't moved yet,influence was starting to shift to the Conservatives and the UUP now had the opportunity to be part of it.

He outlined how the Ulster Unionist Party now have access to policy expertise and the social justice agenda initiated by Iain Duncan Smith .Conservatives and Unionists were ready to adopt the agenda in Government.This social justice agenda is radical and enables us to target the real issues of poverty in society where Labour has singularly failed .Conservatives and Unionists are ready to pick up the pieces of Labour's broken Britain with new radical policies to prevent failure and underachievement in children .New resarch shows educational achievement is influenced in their early years even before they are 3 years old.Family breakdown and poor parenting are identified as the main cause of under achievement in education.The Ulster Unionist Party are ready to grasp the real issues in education of special needs and early year education and not be continually deflected by the 11+ debate.Educational underachievement has severe costs and knock on effects on the criminal justice system and the economy.

He said the Union was safer than ever and the Conservative link guaranteed our position in the Union.Clearly the electorate now want delivery on real issues away from the old sectarian orange/green agenda,the majority of people have moved on.The Ulster Unionist Party has been honest with the electorate and now with the Conservative link can demonstrate for the first time ever that the Union is stronger than ever .With influence in the top of national Government we can rebuild our economy in Northern Ireland,and in particular our private sector.We still have strengths even after 30 years of troubles which decimated our private sector.We have lower unemployment than some parts of GB ,good educational and skill levels and our vibrant agri-food sector now represents 11% of NI economy.We are already in discussions with senior Conservatives regarding an enterprise zone and tax incentives to encourage a revival in the private sector.

Mr McCalister concluded that we in Northern Ireland can now participate in the big prize of influence in national government With a general election now imminent the results will be more exciting than ever as our count will be started when polls close as in the rest of the UK.Northern Ireland is again at the heart of the Union and for the first time with Conservative victory we will have a Government that is no longer neutral on the Union.We can now look forward to the future with confidence as equal members of that Union.