Statement by South Antrim TUV Assembly candidate Mel Lucas:

“Few things underscore the surreal nature of politics in Northern Ireland more than the very public argument between Peter Robinson and Tom Elliott.

“Given that both parties have now embraced the Belfast Agreement there is precious little difference in policy terms between the two parties. Instead Mr Elliott and Mr Robinson have engaged in an “O yes you did”, “O no I didn’t” argument worthy of any primary school playground.

“And what is it about? It is about the co-First Minister allegedly praising the work of an executive colleague!

“In what other government in the world would the co-equal leader of an executive threaten legal action because he was accused of praising someone he spent the last four years in government with?

“The dispute between Messrs Robinson and Elliott adds nothing of substance to the election apart from highlighting the abnormal nature of government in our Province. Only TUV offer the electorate the chance to vote for a party which will bring true democracy to Northern Ireland. We need a government formed by parties who can agree and bound together by collective responsibility.”