DUP leader congratulates new councillor

Alderman Stephen Moutray said: “I want to congratulate Jo-Anne Dobson on her success and wish her well as she takes her seat on Craigavon Borough Council. For my part and that of my DUP colleagues we would hope to have a good working relationship with her.”

He went on: “This was of course a result that was obtained without any DUP candidate in the field. We took the correct decision that we would give no credence whatsoever to this waste of 30k nor would we be party to imposing that additional burden upon the Craigavon ratepayers.

“We will, however, be contesting the general election. Sir Reg Empey shouldn’t allow the absence of a DUP candidate to go to his head. Even he can win an election when the DUP are absent.

“However when it comes to the general election we shall be campaigning around a candidate in David Simpson with an outstanding record of service and representation. That is a contest we shall be very much part of and that is decision on the part of the electorate that I very much look forward to.”