Responding to the poll published in today’s Belfast Telegraph which once again saw an increase in support for TUV party chairman Jordan Armstrong said:
“The support for TUV in the poll published in today’s Belfast Telegraph is confirmation of a trend which has been demonstrated across a number of pollsters for a year now. It is long past time that some – particularly broadcasters – stopped looking for reasons to explain away the growing support for TUV in these polls and dismiss the prospect of the party pulling this sort of figure on polling day and reflect the reality that TUV speaks for a significant section of the electorate, within the margin of error of the UUP, Alliance and the SDLP.
“To treat TUV as anything other than a major party in the upcoming election when it comes to the allocation of broadcast opportunities would be nothing short of scandalous and attempt to suppress the will of the electorate.
“Some will try to tell us that people are learning to live with the Protocol and that Unionists aren’t concerned about the Protocol. The reality – as this poll shows – is that two thirds of Unionists back collapsing the Assembly over the Sea Border. Unionism is finished with empty threats and demands action and delivery – small wonder that Sir Jeffery Donaldson is the worst polling leader with, sadly, Colum Eastwood receiving a better rating from Unionist voters.
“Unionism sees through empty threats. Just a few month’s out from an Assembly election will other parties finally get that message?
“Anything said or done by any political party in the next few months that is not consistent with what they’ve said or done in the last 12 months will to be met with the cynicism it deserves.”