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TUV in first minister job pledge TUV in first minister job pledge
(about 3 hours later)
The TUV leader has said his party will use any leverage it has in a hung parliament to reverse rules over the NI first minister's job. The TUV leader has said his party will use any leverage it has in a hung parliament to reverse rules over the NI first minister job.
Mr Allister said that the rules could hand the first minister's job to Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.Mr Allister said that the rules could hand the first minister's job to Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness.
He said the St Andrew's rule change which allowed the largest party to enter the office instead of the largest designation must be reversed.He said the St Andrew's rule change which allowed the largest party to enter the office instead of the largest designation must be reversed.
Mr Allister was launching his party's manifesto.Mr Allister was launching his party's manifesto.
He accused the DUP of allowing this change to happen so the party could scare unionists into backing it in polls.He accused the DUP of allowing this change to happen so the party could scare unionists into backing it in polls.
He said unionists must work at Westminster to change the rule.He said unionists must work at Westminster to change the rule.
Under the Good Friday Agreement, the top post went to the group or designation with the largest number of voters therefore securing the job for unionism for some time.Under the Good Friday Agreement, the top post went to the group or designation with the largest number of voters therefore securing the job for unionism for some time.
Launching his party's manifesto, Mr Allister said the TUV party was an insurance policy for unionists and a brake on mandatory coalition.Launching his party's manifesto, Mr Allister said the TUV party was an insurance policy for unionists and a brake on mandatory coalition.
GovernmentGovernment
He said he wanted to see voluntary coalition in the assembly, adding the TUV would not join any government that involved Sinn Fein.He said he wanted to see voluntary coalition in the assembly, adding the TUV would not join any government that involved Sinn Fein.
He said rules should be changed to ensure anyone with a terrorist conviction cannot be a minister.He said rules should be changed to ensure anyone with a terrorist conviction cannot be a minister.
Mr Allister said the DUP's "unexplained links to property developers" was an issue on the doorsteps.Mr Allister said the DUP's "unexplained links to property developers" was an issue on the doorsteps.
And he demanded to know why UTV's Ken Reid was the only correspondent being allowed to see legal advice which Mr Robinson says clears him. And he demanded to know why UTV's Ken Reid was the only correspondent being allowed to see legal advice which Mr Robinson says clears him over allegations that he may have breached the ministerial code over his wife Iris' business dealings.
He accused Mr Robinson of engaging in "DIY vindication".He accused Mr Robinson of engaging in "DIY vindication".
The party is standing in 10 out of Northern Ireland's 18 constituencies.The party is standing in 10 out of Northern Ireland's 18 constituencies.
The main points of the TUV manifesto include:The main points of the TUV manifesto include:
• Economy: The UK economic stability must be restored as a priority; can only be achieved if there are significant cutbacks across the bloated bureaucracy of government. • Economy: UK economic stability must be restored as a priority; can only be achieved if there are significant cutbacks across the bloated bureaucracy of government.
• Education: Strongly supports academic selection where that suits the abilities of children who wish to avail of it; there must be no funding hierarchy whereby secondary schools are disadvantaged.• Education: Strongly supports academic selection where that suits the abilities of children who wish to avail of it; there must be no funding hierarchy whereby secondary schools are disadvantaged.
• Health: Frontline services must be protected by ring-fenced funding.• Health: Frontline services must be protected by ring-fenced funding.


Click here to read Traditional Unionist Voice manifestoClick here to read Traditional Unionist Voice manifesto
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