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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Empey warns of early election | Empey warns of early election |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Ulster Unionist leader has warned there could be an assembly election "within weeks" if the crisis over policing and justice is not resolved. | The Ulster Unionist leader has warned there could be an assembly election "within weeks" if the crisis over policing and justice is not resolved. |
| Sir Reg Empey said his party was prepared for an election as the UUP executive met to discuss the crisis. | Sir Reg Empey said his party was prepared for an election as the UUP executive met to discuss the crisis. |
| He also gave his strongest indication yet that the UUP could join forces with the DUP in a forthcoming Stormont poll. | He also gave his strongest indication yet that the UUP could join forces with the DUP in a forthcoming Stormont poll. |
| He said at present the UUP alliance with the Conservatives was confined to Westminster and European elections. | He said at present the UUP alliance with the Conservatives was confined to Westminster and European elections. |
| 'Alternative options' | |
| Sir Reg was also asked about speculation that three prospective Tory candidates had withdrawn their Westminster nominations over frustration that the UUP had not sorted out a joint nomination process. | Sir Reg was also asked about speculation that three prospective Tory candidates had withdrawn their Westminster nominations over frustration that the UUP had not sorted out a joint nomination process. |
| He said it was a "matter of regret" but was an internal matter for the Conservatives. | He said it was a "matter of regret" but was an internal matter for the Conservatives. |
| The UUP leader denied that the Tory alliance was damaged and said the two parties would continue to work together. | The UUP leader denied that the Tory alliance was damaged and said the two parties would continue to work together. |
| "As far as we are concerned, our alliance is fine. We are continuing to work together and that is fine and I think in the current circumstances, the rationale of having a series of alternative options in Northern Ireland should be clear to most people," he said. |