Alliance Leader derides UUP claims on shared future

12.00.00pm GMT Tue 20th Feb 2007

Alliance Leader David Ford has hit out at the Ulster Unionist Leader Reg Empey for trying to hoodwink local voters into thinking that the UUP are non-sectarian, when their manifesto makes no reference whatsoever to a shared future. David Ford also stated that the UUP is still linked to the representatives of armed and active loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast City Council.

David Ford said: "The Ulster Unionists cannot credibly claim to be a moderate party. They are trying to hoodwink local voters into thinking that they are a non-sectarian party, yet they did not even give a shared future so much as a mention in their manifesto.

"The notion that Ulster Unionists are non-tribal could not be further from the truth. They are still wrapping themselves in red, white and blue.

"Where were the UUP when Alliance proved that the sectarian designations in the Assembly don't work? They were taking the benefit, but none of the pain.

"Why did the UUP Ministers fail to produce any policy on a Shared Future if they claim to support this? We had to wait for a direct rule Minister, Des Browne, to do that.

"Why are the UUP still linked to the representative of armed and active loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast City Council? Decent people are disgusted by this link.

"We are the only party that will genuinely deliver a shared future and an end to segregation. Alliance is the only alternative to tribal politics and no one should be fooled by the Ulster Unionists belated efforts to paint themselves as non-tribal."