This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8292639.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| One unionist call for city seat | One unionist call for city seat |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Ulster Unionists and DUP should discuss running a single unionist candidate in South Belfast, local UUP constituency members have said. | The Ulster Unionists and DUP should discuss running a single unionist candidate in South Belfast, local UUP constituency members have said. |
| In a letter to UUP leader Sir Reg Empey, the Ulster Unionist Association suggested the move was needed to retake the Westminster seat from the SDLP. | In a letter to UUP leader Sir Reg Empey, the Ulster Unionist Association suggested the move was needed to retake the Westminster seat from the SDLP. |
| The move could potentially bring the Ulster Unionists into conflict with their Conservative electoral partners. | The move could potentially bring the Ulster Unionists into conflict with their Conservative electoral partners. |
| The Conservatives have already selected a candidate for South Belfast. | The Conservatives have already selected a candidate for South Belfast. |
| It is understood a recent meeting of the South Belfast Ulster Unionist Association concluded that unless a single unionist candidate runs for Westminster, it is likely the seat will be retained by the sitting MP SDLP Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell. | It is understood a recent meeting of the South Belfast Ulster Unionist Association concluded that unless a single unionist candidate runs for Westminster, it is likely the seat will be retained by the sitting MP SDLP Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell. |
| At the 2005 Westminster election Mr McDonnell won the seat with 10,339 votes. Jimmy Spratt of the DUP was second with 9,104 votes and Michael McGimpsey of the UUP was third with 7,263 votes. | At the 2005 Westminster election Mr McDonnell won the seat with 10,339 votes. Jimmy Spratt of the DUP was second with 9,104 votes and Michael McGimpsey of the UUP was third with 7,263 votes. |
| Three Ulster Unionists are believed to be interested in standing this time - Mr McGimpsey, the former Belfast Mayor Bob Stoker and the Village community worker Paula Bradshaw. | Three Ulster Unionists are believed to be interested in standing this time - Mr McGimpsey, the former Belfast Mayor Bob Stoker and the Village community worker Paula Bradshaw. |
| Any suggestion of a pact with the DUP could cause problems with the Conservatives who have pledged to fight every constituency in the UK, and have already selected their candidate, former BBC producer Peter McCann. | Any suggestion of a pact with the DUP could cause problems with the Conservatives who have pledged to fight every constituency in the UK, and have already selected their candidate, former BBC producer Peter McCann. |
| South Belfast Alliance MLA, Anna Lo, said the call for a joint unionist candidate showed that the UUP/ Conservative link-up remained "mired in the old politics of sectarian headcounts." | |
| She said: "Clearly the rhetoric of a new non-sectarian dawn with support for a shared future has been exposed as completely shallow. | |
| "We are not surprised at the stance of the UUP. The Conservatives need to reflect on what they have shackled themselves to." |