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In a statement today a spokesman for the Ulster Unionist Party commented ahead of the Council meeting tomorrow night in Banbridge that seeks to replace the out-going UUP Councillor Tyrone Howe.

The spokesman said,

Tyrone Howe has acted appropriately and has shown the respect for the office of Councillor that it deserves. By his own admission he felt that he could not devote the time and energy necessary to properly fulfil the function. In stepping down he has acted honourably and sensibly.

The people of Dromore want to see a local person, who is easy to get the hold off and focused on Dromore elected. That person is Carol Black who was selected by the UUP to go for the seat on Saturday 15 December. Mrs. Black is a mother of two who is in her mid 40’s and has lived in Dromore for 17 years. Her children have attended both Dromore Central Primary School and Dromore High School.

The DUP have suggested that if the UUP does not select their preferred choice of replacement for Mr Howe then they would not suggest a co-option but may challenge us in a by-election. It is an utterly ridiculous proposition for a rival political party to be suggesting what candidates another political party should run.

A co-option would be the normal course of events when a member resigns and that is what the UUP believes should happen at the Banbridge Council meeting tomorrow night. There is no need for a by election that would cost the rate payers £25,000 and is asking the voters to come out in the middle of winter. But if it comes to it the UUP is prepared and ready to fight one.”

Paula Bradshaw, UUP Urban Regeneration spokesperson is today calling on Arlene Foster to provide more assurances that Phase two of the Titanic Quarter, for which outline planning permission has been granted, will actually match up to the hype being created.

In a statement Paula, who is also the Director of the Greater Village Regeneration Trust in South Belfast, said,

“There is talk of 2000 new residential units for the development, some of them are being described as affordable homes and social dwellings: in the absence of a defined government policy on how the “affordable homes” agenda is to be rolled out, pending the adoption of the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Affordability Review Implementation Group currently considering Semple’s report, it is unclear as to how this is to be implemented and enforced.

In the case of “social housing” provision it is evident from the Laganside example in Belfast’s government-led inner-city urban regeneration processes this tends to equate to single unit dwellings. The Ulster Unionist Party is calling for assurances that lifetime home standards are incorporated into the overall development. There is an urgent need to provide family size houses in East Belfast, particularly so close to the City centre. Families provide a sense of stability and the bedrock of any sustainable community. With falling roll numbers in the local primary schools, for example, it is important that the Titanic development contributes to the reversal of the population decline.

If the 2000 residential units are small apartments then there will be the usual rush from private investors and landlords seeking to make a profit from the project that is being hailed as a turning point for Belfast’s economy. The families of Belfast should be the real winners from this new development by being encouraged to set up home here.”

The Chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party Councillors Association today stated his outright opposition in allowing ex-terrorists to sit on DPPs.

The motion to allow ex-terrorists onto the DPPs was approved without a vote in Parliament.

Trevor Wilson today said in a statement,

“This latest move in Parliament gives a green light for convicted terrorists to oversee the police.

Jeffrey Donaldson said the DUP had opposed it but as usual the rhetoric, bluster and claims to have more influence in Westminster didn’t amount to much. Another successful DUP campaign then, wasn’t it?

This move will be abhorrent to a majority of the public who don’t want former terrorists making operational and other recommendations to the Police.

What’s the next step? Allowing terrorists, convicted or otherwise, to serve in the PSNI? The Government has ruled this out. But what about when policing powers are devolved to Northern Ireland?

The UUP is opposed to the speedy devolution of Policing and Justice. There is no public appetite for it and we need to know the full picture of what was agreed behind the scenes in St Andrews between Ian Paisley and his chuckle brother Martin McGuinness first. I wouldn’t bet against seeing former terrorists patrolling our streets in PSNI uniforms shortly after powers are devolved, even if Jeffrey and the DUP ‘oppose’ it.”

Daphne Saunderson from Newry and Armagh Constituency was awarded the Woman of the Year Trophy for 2007. Daphne is the Honorary treasurer for the constituency and has undertaken this onerous ,demanding  position for many years . Daphne has fulfilled her role in an efficient and dedicated  manner.

This trophy is awarded annually to the  woman in the UUP who has promoted and worked actively for Unionism. It  recognises  the valuable and mostly unacknowledged  work  women do in the party.

Ulster Unionist Spokesperson Rodney McCune addressed stakeholders in the criminal justice system at the CSJNI Annual Conference. Rodney McCune said:

“Crime, and in particular violent crime, continues to be far too prevalent in Northern Ireland society, our prisons are awash with drugs, our courts system is not operating with the required efficiency, sentencing fails to command public confidence and we are about to be subjected to Community Support Officers.”

“My Party is in a very different position than the other main Northern Ireland Parties. We have been the only Party consistently urging caution on this issue and the only Party urging sensible and proper consideration of the implications –that includes the negatives as well as the potential positives. A persuasive case for wholesale devolution of criminal justice as early as next year has yet to be made –even today.

The problems facing the system are real and pressing. These problems should not have to wait for devolution of criminal justice –nor is devolution of criminal justice a pre-requisite to problems been tackled and being solved. Ulster Unionists will continue play a constructive role in the debate on the present and future of criminal justice –working towards a system that operates efficiently and commands public confidence.”

In a statement, UUP peer Lord Kilclooney said: “I was elected in 1965 and am therefore Ulster’s longest-serving politician. For 30 years we all suffered. Looking back I recognise that this election is a real chance to move forward.

“We are spoilt for choice – those for St Andrews; those opposed to St Andrews; those sitting on the fence; those for the United Kingdom; those for a United Ireland.

“There simply is no excuse to fail to vote. And a poor turnout would bring about the collapse of Stormont and condemn us to indifferent rule by English politicians with no local mandate.

“Often people cry out for bread-and-butter politics – not constitutional politics. We have it in this election. We campaign about the future of grammar schools; the NHS; water charges; bureaucracy in agriculture etc. We are now electing MLAs who will decide these matters. We must vote to influence the decisions we want – not leave it to others.

“Over 40,000 registered to vote after the publication of the electoral role on October 16 – most of them were nationalists. This week the list of those who claimed postal votes are once again overwhelmingly nationalist. Nationalists are taking this election seriously. They are going to vote in large numbers. The pro-British majority must vote strongly and maximise their vote and thus the decisions in the new assembly.

“I am flying back from Westminster on polling day to vote and, using the PR system to its best advantage, I will vote for every pro-British candidate and then proceed to vote for all other candidates who are opposed to violent terrorism.”

In a statement responding to news in the Sunday papers that the DUP were imposing a fine of £20,000 on Candidates who break the Party’s central line, a UUP spokesman said,

“This is outrageous, reeks of a paranoia and shows a party deeply unease with itself. It runs contrary to basic principles of democracy and is bordering on fascism.”

Ulster Unionist West Belfast constituency association has selected Louis West as its candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections.

At a widely attended meeting in West Belfast last night, Mr West was unanimously selected by local members.

Association president Dr Chris McGimpsey said: “West Belfast Association is pleased to have selected such a strong local candidate.

“Louis is ideally positioned to offer determined and effective representation for the people of the area. He has worked hard for this community all his life and will continue to do so.”

In his acceptance speech to the delegates, Mr West stressed that key issues for his campaign would be domestic rates and water charges, educational disadvantage and affordable housing. Mr West has spent a lifetime in community development work in the Greater Shankill area. He is a founder, amongst others, of Farset Youth & Community and Farset Development Agency.

He was also a founder member of the Greater Shankill Community Council and helped to form Woodvale and Shankill Housing Association, and Tennent Street and District Housing Association (now known as Filor Housing Association).

An ex-serviceman, he saw active service overseas during a varied military career.

Responding to a statement from the Electoral Commission today, a spokesman for the Ulster Unionist Party said,

“We thank the Electoral Commission for their help and co-operation and we welcome today’s statement which sees an end to the Electoral Commission’s inquiry. This was a matter that the Party was keen to see cleared up and clarified.

We have put in place more stringent accounting and auditing procedures to ensure future compliance with the legislation and look forward to a continued good relationship with the Commission.”

The Fews Branch (Newry and Mourne) of the Ulster Unionist Party today called on the local unionist electorate to mobilise and vote for William Frazer in the forthcoming by-election on Wednesday 2 August.

Mr Frazer is standing as an independent Unionist candidate for a seat on Newry and Mourne District Council in the by-election caused by the resignation of a Sinn Fein Member for highly cynical and tactical political reasons.

In a statement the Fews Branch said,

“Mr Frazer is well known for his campaigning on victims issues and we call on the entire Unionist electorate in the Fews area to cast their vote for William Frazer and defeat Sinn Fein on Wednesday. With a high turnout of the unionist electorate there is no reason why William cannot be elected to Newry and Mourne District Council.”