Veteran Ulster Unionist Councillor, Jim Speers MBE, has expressed his disappointment at the actions of DUP candidates distributing misleading election material.

Councillor Speers said:

“The DUP are the party which delivered the RHI scandal and now they are delivering misleading election material across Northern Ireland, using the results of an Assembly election on Council election literature. It is clear that the DUP are more interested in attempting to undermine the Ulster Unionist Party and other unionists than taking on Sinn Fein and protecting the Union.

“They are using bar charts of desperation. In my own area of Cusher, they are attempting to show that it is a neck and neck race between Sinn Fein and the DUP, when the facts are that at the last council election, four unionists and one nationalist (SDLP) were elected, with the Ulster Unionist Party topping the poll with 38.4% to the DUP`s 22%.

“The RHI inquiry exposed the DUP`s tenuous grasp of facts and basic maths. Their lack of attention to every jot and tittle of detail is well known, however I put it to them that what they have done here is beyond the pale, even for them. I am very disappointed in DUP candidate, Gareth Wilson, for distributing this misleading material as I have always had a good working relationship with him and shown him respect. Obviously that is not being reciprocated.

“The voters should not be deceived by a desperate DUP attempt to dupe them.

“My own Party Leader has already warned that if people were to believe and follow the DUP`s advice, it will lead directly to the loss of any unionist representation in some areas. I ask those DUP candidates distributing this material will they stand over it if the result of what they have done means that some areas are left without unionist representation?”