Responding to the DUP reshuffle Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said:

“Today’s reshuffle amounts to nothing more than a rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic. The DUP, having crashed from 32% of the vote in 2004 to just 18.2% in 2009, know that a lot of their MLAs are going to be receiving their marching orders before too long and are desperately flaying around looking for a way to “re-connect” with the Unionist electorate.

“Disconnection with its support base is not a problem faced by Traditional Unionist Voice. And it is not one which the DUP will solve by any reshuffle.

“The DUP was abandoned by a huge section of their former supporters because of their dishonest deal with a party dedicated to the destruction of our Province. Changing the faces who sit round the Cabinet table with Marty and Co will not assuage grass roots disgust at their antics.

“The ordinary voter in the street will doubtless feel some bemusement at Nelson McCausland taking a post in the Executive alongside the IRA’s political wing after being thrown out of the Assembly chamber twice for attacking Sinn Fein’s links to criminality. His decision to take up a post in the cabinet typifies the DUP’s Jesuitical attitude to Republicanism – pretending to oppose Sinn Fein while at the same time partnering them in government.

“And how does Sammy Wilson’s retention in the Executive square with the DUP’s pledge to end double jobbing – an issue highlighted by TUV during the election?

“This reshuffle, like the DUP’s European election message of vote for us to stop our buddies in Sinn Fein, is one which is riven with contradictions. Having embraced the Belfast Agreement the DUP is incapable of disentangling itself from Sinn Fein/IRA. It is therefore set on the road to electoral disaster.”