TUV leader Jim Allister MLA was the guest speaker at the Cookstown TUV branch BBQ on Saturday. Mr Allister used the opportunity to thank all the branch members that had worked so hard for the Party during the Assembly and Council elections and promised that he would continue to act as their voice in the Assembly.

Referring to his first weeks within the Assembly Mr Allister explained that it was evident that the SF-DUP partnership was characterised by Unionist surrender, culminating recently with the elevation of Francie Molloy - the man implicated in the murder of Eric Lutton by the DUP – to the post of Principle Deputy Speaker.

Addressing party members Mr Allister said:

“Some of the first business of this Assembly when it came back after the election was the first stage of a sordid deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein. This shameful deal resulted in the elevation of Francie Molly to the totally unnecessary position of Principal Deputy Speaker.

“On the floor of the Assembly I reminded DUP members about what their DUP colleagues said of Francie Molloy. In the House of Commons David Simpson MP implicated him in the murder of Eric Lutton and Rev William McCrea told the House that Molloy should be arrested for war crimes against the people of the UK.

“Despite the case against Francie Molloy the DUP lobby fodder voted in favour of this dirty backroom deal. However, due to the presence of TUV at Stormont they could not do so without the words of their colleague David Simpson ranging in their ears as they did so.

“That deal demonstrated that the reason for which TUV was formed remains. We are a voice of conscience at Stormont and I pledge to continue to be a thorn in the flesh of that which is morally wrong.”