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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Election 2015: DUP and UUP agree pact in four constituencies | Election 2015: DUP and UUP agree pact in four constituencies |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland's two biggest unionist parties have agreed a general election pact in four constituencies, including the UK's most tightly contested seat. | Northern Ireland's two biggest unionist parties have agreed a general election pact in four constituencies, including the UK's most tightly contested seat. |
| The deal between the Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Unionist Party means there will be a single candidate from the two parties. | |
| The DUP will step aside in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and Newry and Armagh. | The DUP will step aside in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and Newry and Armagh. |
| The UUP will step aside in East Belfast and North Belfast. Sinn Féin has now called on the SDLP to form a pact. | The UUP will step aside in East Belfast and North Belfast. Sinn Féin has now called on the SDLP to form a pact. |
| However, the SDLP told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster that it was against the idea, calling the unionist move "a sectarian carve-up". | However, the SDLP told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster that it was against the idea, calling the unionist move "a sectarian carve-up". |
| The unionist pact includes the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, which Sinn Féin held in 2010 by a margin of just four votes. | The unionist pact includes the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, which Sinn Féin held in 2010 by a margin of just four votes. |
| Despite six months of negotiations, the unionist parties were not able to agree a single unionist candidate for South Belfast. | Despite six months of negotiations, the unionist parties were not able to agree a single unionist candidate for South Belfast. |
| However, DUP leader Peter Robinson described the unionist pact as the "most comprehensive electoral agreement between our two parties in the last 29 years". | However, DUP leader Peter Robinson described the unionist pact as the "most comprehensive electoral agreement between our two parties in the last 29 years". |
| He said it would help to "reduce the number of non-unionists returned" to Westminster. | He said it would help to "reduce the number of non-unionists returned" to Westminster. |
| UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said their aim was to "get the pro-union vote out" in May's general election. | UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said their aim was to "get the pro-union vote out" in May's general election. |
| Two of the four constituencies are currently held by Sinn Féin, whose MPs do not take their seats at Westminster under a long-standing policy of abstentionism. | Two of the four constituencies are currently held by Sinn Féin, whose MPs do not take their seats at Westminster under a long-standing policy of abstentionism. |
| This time, the DUP has agreed to step aside in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, where the party will encourage its supporters to vote for former UUP leader Tom Elliott. | This time, the DUP has agreed to step aside in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, where the party will encourage its supporters to vote for former UUP leader Tom Elliott. |
| Similarly the DUP will not field a candidate in Newry and Armagh, where the UUP's only Stormont minister, Danny Kennedy, is standing for election. | Similarly the DUP will not field a candidate in Newry and Armagh, where the UUP's only Stormont minister, Danny Kennedy, is standing for election. |
| In turn, the UUP will support former DUP Mayor of Belfast Gavin Robinson in his bid to win back the East Belfast seat from Alliance - Naomi Long unseated the DUP leader at the last general election. | In turn, the UUP will support former DUP Mayor of Belfast Gavin Robinson in his bid to win back the East Belfast seat from Alliance - Naomi Long unseated the DUP leader at the last general election. |
| The UUP has also agreed not to stand in North Belfast, where the DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds faces a challenge for his seat from Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly. | The UUP has also agreed not to stand in North Belfast, where the DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds faces a challenge for his seat from Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly. |
| The DUP leader said grassroots unionists wanted to see his party working with the UUP to "maximise the unionist vote". | The DUP leader said grassroots unionists wanted to see his party working with the UUP to "maximise the unionist vote". |
| "I commend the constituency associations from both parties who have considered the bigger picture and accepted they should stand aside in the greater interests of unionism," Mr Robinson said. | "I commend the constituency associations from both parties who have considered the bigger picture and accepted they should stand aside in the greater interests of unionism," Mr Robinson said. |
| "With a predicted hung parliament, I am calling on all unionists to unite behind these agreed candidates and maximise the pro-union voice in the House of Commons." | "With a predicted hung parliament, I am calling on all unionists to unite behind these agreed candidates and maximise the pro-union voice in the House of Commons." |
| The UUP leader said he acknowledged "there will be those who feel disappointed that no understanding was possible in South Belfast". | The UUP leader said he acknowledged "there will be those who feel disappointed that no understanding was possible in South Belfast". |
| "The key now is to get the pro-union vote out on 7 May, not just in South Belfast but across Northern Ireland," Mr Nesbitt said. | "The key now is to get the pro-union vote out on 7 May, not just in South Belfast but across Northern Ireland," Mr Nesbitt said. |
| The DUP is currently the fourth largest party at Westminster, while the UUP has no MPs. | The DUP is currently the fourth largest party at Westminster, while the UUP has no MPs. |
| East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long said: "The DUP clearly now know that Gavin Robinson cannot win against Alliance in a fair fight, so they have resorted to this anti-democratic move in a desperate attempt to strengthen their position. | East Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long said: "The DUP clearly now know that Gavin Robinson cannot win against Alliance in a fair fight, so they have resorted to this anti-democratic move in a desperate attempt to strengthen their position. |
| "Many UUP voters were already disillusioned by the party's involvement in whipping up sectarian tensions around flags and parades and this decision will only serve to further alienate them. | "Many UUP voters were already disillusioned by the party's involvement in whipping up sectarian tensions around flags and parades and this decision will only serve to further alienate them. |
| "This decision has sounded the death knell for the UUP in East Belfast, who have abandoned their voters without gaining any truly winnable seats in return." | "This decision has sounded the death knell for the UUP in East Belfast, who have abandoned their voters without gaining any truly winnable seats in return." |