Traditional Unionist Voice has announced that the party’s Press Officer, Sammy Morrison, will contest East Antrim in the upcoming Westminster election.
 
Commenting after he was unanimously selected by the TUV’s East Antrim Association Sammy Morrison said:
“I am honoured to have been selected by the local TUV association to contest East Antrim and am really looking forward to the incoming month of campaigning.
 
“In 2005 East Antrim elected Sammy Wilson on a manifesto which pledged that mandatory coalition with Sinn Fein/IRA was “out of the question”. Today he is part of the very thing he promised the people he would oppose.
 
“This was the same Sammy who – in 1998 – stated:
“Can people who have been the victims for the last 30 years share the reins of government with those who have been involved in such actions? That is the crunch question.”
That remains the “crunch question” today and one which TUV will force Sammy Wilson to face up to.
 
“A key player in Stormont’s terrorist inclusive executive Sammy Wilson cannot escape responsibility for its abject failures. This election provides people with an opportunity to pass judgement on terrorists in government, the chaos brought to education and the DUP’s gifting Sinn Fein/IRA a toxic veto on every legislative and funding proposal affecting the new Justice Department.
 
“With UCUNF in a total shambles I look forward to offering the people of East Antrim a creditable alternative to the incumbent MP. TUV offers a positive way forward. TUV doesn’t believe that terrorism should be appeased rather we believe it should be defeated. A rigged system of government - which denies the people the right to have an opposition and guarantees that every sizable party will be in government for ever – is unacceptable anywhere else in the Western World and so it should be here.
 
“It is only by voting TUV that people can send that message.”
 
Commenting on the upcoming election battle in East Antrim TUV leader Jim Allister said:

"In 2005 I campaigned for Sammy Wilson believing he meant it when he pledged his opposition to terrorists in government. Sadly, he somersaulted into government with IRA/Sinn Fein and has become a chief salesman for the malfunctioning, disastrous regime at Stormont. Also, for 5 years he has happily short-changed the people of East Antrim through his multiple jobbing. Though paid to do a full-time job he has been a part-time MP, who now grudgingly promises to end that disreputable practice. The truth is, of course, that if Sammy Wilson till now hasn’t thought the people of East Antrim worthy of full-time representation in parliament he is not now worthy of their vote, whatever his latest promise.

"I’m glad that in this election there is another Sammy, Sammy Morrison, whose principles are not for sale, who will not roll-over for the sake of office and who will give East Antrim the full-time representation it needs. Sammy Morrison worked for me during my time as MEP. I know him to be able, principled and dedicated. He will make an excellent MP and, therefore, I thoroughly recommend him to the electors of East Antrim.”