DUP members 'unhappy' with power sharing deal

Growing numbers of the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party are unhappy with the St Andrews Agreement which would put it into government with Sinn Féin, it was claimed today.

Robert McCartney, MLA, leader of the UK Unionist Party said disaffected DUP members were urging him to run candidates opposing the agreement in any election which may be called to ratify the deal.

The one-time North Down MP said he believed he could attract substantial support from members of the DUP determined not to rubber stamp their party going into power with Sinn Féin.

"In the past two weeks since the St Andrews Agreement I have had numerous calls from authenticated members of the DUP expressing their distress at what they describe as a U-turn by the DUP," he said.

He said they had expressed the concern many unionist voters would stay at home and vote neither for the DUP or UUP - meaning for the first time in Northern Ireland more nationalists voting than unionists.

"Those people are concerned that such voters should have a place to go. People who oppose on principle - in the current climate - any mandatory coalition with Sinn Féin have suggested if there was a UKUP candidate in their area they would support them," he said.

Mr McCartney insisted: "I have not solicited these contacts."

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme, he said he had simply said to those who contacted him: "If you feel strongly enough, then you organise candidates. You let me have their CVs.

"The UKUP is a political party with a skeleton crew, if you wish to put a full crew on it, then I won't stop you."

Mr McCartney indicated he believed he could take six seats from the DUP at an Assembly election called to ratify St Andrews.

He said there was "massive dissension" within the DUP and cited the example of the middle-of-the-road Alliance Party which, he said, had won six seats last time around despite its overall overall vote dropping to 21,000.

"I believe there are 21,000 votes at least out there of disappointed and despairing Ulster Unionist and DUP people who do not want Sinn Féin currently in government with guaranteed places in the Executive," said Mr McCartney.