Statement by TUV Macedon council candidate Norman Boyd:
“In recent days the DUP have issued two statements attacking voters who dare to vote for any Unionist who doesn’t have a DUP badge.
“Philip Brett claimed at the start of the week that there were four Unionist quotas in East Antrim. Having contested that seat for TUV and finished as the 4th Unionist I am in a position to advise him that there were not four Unionist quotas. There were 3.77 – 1,500 votes short of four quotas.
“In the case of Strangford, it was lack of DUP and UUP transfers to TUV which denied Unionism an additional seat.
“Today Gavin Robinson claims that the DUP lost a seat in North Antrim because of lack of transfers.
“The fact that the DUP vote in North Antrim fell by 15% is probably something he should explore within his own party rather than seeking to blame the electorate.
“One does also need to remember the fact that it was the DUP who, in the last Assembly, elevated convicted IRA man Alex Maskey to the position of Speaker while others voted for fellow Unionist and Orangeman Roy Beggs.
“If DUP wants to find people who empower Sinn Fein he would be best advised to look closer to home.”