Responding to Stephen Moutray’s comments on the TUV party conference, Traditional Unionist Voice Party Chairman Ivor McConnell said:

“One can only imagine that the press release which went out in Moaning Moutray’s name was written before the DUP had any knowledge of the contents of Traditional Unionist Voice’s inaugural party conference.

“Had Mr Moutray bothered to check his facts he might have thought better of claiming that the TUV’s only policy is to attack the DUP. The conference debated a wide range of issues including education, economic matters, policing and justice and culture. This hardly sounds like a one issue agenda does it?

“Mr Moutray claims that Direct Rule would constitute Dublin rule and asks if Mr Allister’s position on the subject has changed. This is the same man who was elected to Craigavon Council on a manifesto which stated: “If executive devolution cannot be set up on a satisfactory democratic basis, then the only option is to make Direct Rule more accountable and acceptable”. The question for Mr Moutray, therefore, is when did his position on the subject change?

“Our MLA must really be living in Cloud Cuckoo Land if he believes that devolution has the confidence of the Unionist electorate. Does he honestly think that anyone in Northern Ireland – Unionist or Nationalist – is impressed with the current shambles of a can’t meet, won’t meet executive and the continuing chaos in relation to education?

“Far from attacking other Unionists on Saturday Mr Allister appealed for Unionist unity on the basis of recognizing that mandatory coalition has failed and can never work. It is regrettable that that Mr Moutray appears have rejected this offer and is instead intent on sustaining Sinn Fein/IRA in government.”