UUP in 'free-fall', claims DUP

David Trimble’s Ulster Unionist Party is in “political free-fall”, the rival DUP claimed tonight.

Democratic Unionists Deputy Leader Peter Robinson said it was clear from the series of rallies his party had held across Northern Ireland over the past ten days that the DUP were “a party on the rise” while the Ulster Unionists were “on the way out”.

The East Belfast MP told the latest rally in Coleraine: “The Ulster Unionist Party is in disarray and on the run.

“They have had the election delayed twice already but their time is running out.

“They cannot avoid an election forever, nor escape the verdict of the unionist people.

“The Ulster Unionist Party is campaigning to avoid an election and to attack the DUP.

“We are a party of new ideas for the future. The Ulster Unionists are a party of misinformation.”

Mr Robinson attacked Ulster Unionist members who had in recent newspaper articles portrayed his party as having abandoned its principles.

He accused the UUP of “hypocrisy”.