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Sir Reg blasts Woodward comments on the Conservative & Unionist project

Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey has said that the people of Northern Ireland can have "no faith in Shaun Woodward as Secretary of State following his efforts to scare-monger and manipulate".

"If the DUP are in bed with Labour, then why not have the courage to say so? If not, then why is Shaun Woodward so determined to turn the electorate against one political party.

"If Mr Woodward were to apply himself to tearing down a nationalist or republican party, there would be an outcry. Why then is it acceptable to use his position to cast aspersions on the candidacy of Conservatives and Unionists?

"He has over-stepped the mark on too many occasions, moving far beyond general criticism of the Conservative and Unionist project. Not only has he explicitly condemned the UUP for exercising our democratic rights over policing and justice, but has come out flying the flag for Peter Robinson personally.

"Shaun is clearly less interested in Northern Ireland, than in his own personal and political agenda.

"I am disgusted that Gordon Brown has not seen fit to rein in his wayward Minister of State. His message has been quite clear - vote for the 'Paisley Party', to the extent of playing on fears of dissident violence.

"Having suggested that the Ulster Unionist Party is somehow risking the stability of the peace process - a process in which we did the heavy lifting, despite DUP opposition - he has exposed an unforgivable bias.

"The man who boasts about being 'neutral' on the union now sees fit to tell unionists how they should vote

"In intervening as he has, Woodward is both seeking to manipulate the Northern Ireland electorate without honesty as to his motives, and is acting to ensure that Northern Ireland remains on the window ledge of the Union.

"Conservatives and Unionists are giving the people of Northern Ireland a real say on who will form the next UK government. This is what real democracy in the United Kingdom is meant to mean."