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Elliott, UUP: non sono un dinosauro politico

UUP leader Elliott ‘no dinosaur’

Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott has said he is not a “political dinosaur” during his keynote speech at the party’s annual conference on Saturday.

Tom Elliott | UUPMr Elliott, who recently took over the position from Sir Reg Empey, has been described as a “traditionalist”, and criticised over comments that he would not attend a GAA match or Gay Pride parade.

Speaking at Saturday afternoon’s conference, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said his political beliefs are founded on “pluralism” and “equality”.

“My unionism is not determined by religion or background, my unionism is open to anyone and everyone who lives in Northern Ireland,” Mr Elliott said.”It is founded on pluralism and equality.”

In October, Trevor Ringland resigned from the party over Mr Elliott’s stance on the GAA.

Addressing the issue in his keynote, the UUP leader continued: “I will not do something or say something, or turn up somewhere just for the sake of a photo opportunity or a pat on the back by an interest group or section of the media.

“I will not dilute or diminish my deep-seated beliefs simply to pretend I am something I am not.”

The power-sharing DUP and Sinn Fein government came in for heavy criticism in Mr Elliott’s speech. He warned that they must not fail to agree the budget.

“What we have today is bad government,” he said. “It’s supposed to be co-operative, consensual, power-sharing government. It’s not. It’s a carve-up – it’s Sinn Fein/DUP failure.

“The foundation stone of democracy is that a government be held to account inside and outside. The electorate need a choice between an outgoing government and a possible alternative.

“It boils down to this: you cannot build a consensual, genuinely power-sharing Northern Ireland upon the particular interests of Sinn Fein and the DUP. It isn’t working and it won’t work.”

Let no-one say that Tom Elliott is some kind of political dinosaur, for I am not.
UUP leader Tom Elliott

The position of UUP leader was vacated by Sir Reg Empey in September, following the party’s failure to win any seats in the May General Election.

Speaking of his bid to take on the role, which was fought against fellow party member Basil McCrea, Tom Elliott said: “On occasion it was a fairly lively campaign, to put it mildly, but we are now working together.”

Mr Elliott has since brought to an end the UUP’s previous electoral pact with the Conservatives, under the UCUNF banner.

But a number of high profile candidates have left the party this year, including Mr Ringland, Paula Bradshaw – who defected to the Alliance Party – and former Flash Harry impersonator Harry Hamilton.

Looking ahead to the Stormont elections next May, Tom Elliott stressed the importance of showing the public a “united” front.

“Voters vote for a united, disciplined party,” he said. “I will not allow our campaign to be undermined from within. The battle begins when we leave this hall.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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