Responding to comments by co-First Minister Robinson this morning TUV leader and Euro election candidate Jim Allister said:
“The only way that the vote can be split in a PR election is if people do not transfer down the Unionist ticket. TUV is making it clear in all our literature that after voting 1 TUV our supporters should transfer to all other pro-Union candidates.
“I am disappointed that co-First Minister Robinson has not entered into the same spirit of Unionist cooperation. In comments to the Belfast Telegraph recently he said he would be advising voters to transfer to the UUP and UKIP but bypass TUV.
“Considering that in the last European election his candidate Mrs Dodds scrapped in sub quota, and was very glad of 25,000 TUV transfers to even get her elected to the third seat, Mr Robinson has no room to make demands on transfers. We are sure Unionists will make up their own minds and, I suspect, many will be itching to pass verdict on his stewardship in government with Sinn Fein.
“It is essential for Unionism that parties put their personal feelings behind them when talking about transfers. To refuse to advocate transfers to other unionists is to declare a preference for a nationalist victory! Is this where Mr Robinson has got to?
“You cannot split the vote in a PR election unless, like the DUP, you call on your supporters to by-pass another pro-Union party.
“However, many will doubtless note that if they want to really send a message to the establishment that concessions should stop there is only one place to put their number 1 – beside the name of their TUV candidate for Europe and local government.”