Vótáil Nicholson 1

My Choosiest Choice of all

Jim Allister is a strong minded, articulate and able politician, a good MEP for Northern Ireland. On domestic (Northern Irish) issues he stuck in a "NO"-unionist time warp, which may be a principled stand on his part, but for the stability and security of Northern Ireland his principles lead to a dead end. If it was his European record alone he'd get my number 1.

Jim Nicholson seems unable to articulate his Ulster Unionist/Conservative agenda, perhaps because of certain media distractions; Lady Hermon, party defections, David Cameron and unionist in-fighting. However he does have a good record as an MEP, his party has put more emphasis on European issues and an alliance with the Tories opens up the possibility of putting Northern Ireland at the centre of mainstream UK politics. It’s the wider European and UK issues, not Jim Nicholson’s charismatic personality that gets the UCUNF my first preference.

Diane Dodd’s is clearly out of her depth, without the aid of her handlers Nigel and Peter, Diane clearly cannot cope especially when surrounded by opponents or sat next to Jim Allister. Her attack dog style of debating and her fantasist anti-Sinn Fein rhetoric are off putting, she's third on my list behind Jim Allister as usual. Peter & Iris certainly don't help the DUP cause (whatever that is). Diane Dodd’s gets my number 3 simply because she's a "unionist".

Sinn Fein won't get any votes from me, much to their disappointment I’m sure, but they're a not trying to build an "Ireland of equals" not with their sectarian reactionary anti-Britishness, or while Bairbre de Brún stands up in the European Parliament to rail against "Unionist death squads". Not to mention the shinners have the worst attendance records in Brussels compared to their opponents. Also de Brun seems to lose all knowledge of English when asking even basic questions, nothing wrong with Gaelic, but using it as a cultural weapon is clearly objectionable.

Jim Allisters Election Leaflet

Having received Jim Allisters euro election leaflet I'm struck by four things:

First, it makes very little mention of any European issues or TUV policy on the EU

Second, it smacks of pre-GFA DUP rhetoric which is outdated and offers nothing positive or inspiring!

Thirdly, it features Jim in a number of Lenin-esque type poses; having no less than 9 pictures of the man himself, is he big headed or is modelling a side line?

Finally, how can an MEP affect change in the Storment set up? It's almost as ridiculous as Diane Dodds claiming she'll smash her parties partners in government?

For those Unionists wanting to punish the DUPers for whatever reasons, the most important way get at the folks on the hill is to vote for Northern Ireland to play a role at the centre of the union; to put Allister number 1 is a waste of opportunity, so to Diane Dodds!

Jim Nicholson and the Unionist/Conservative New Force actually have a opinion on Europe as well as Northern Ireland, plus they want to put us at the centre of the UK government like we were in the 19th century!

For me Jim Nicholson offers an alternative that's refreshing, UK unionist and honest, for British unionists voting for the Unionist/Conservative coalition will secure our position within the union.