Samuel Morrison selected to represent TUV in the election

Samuel lives in Dromore with his wife, Esther, and infant daughter, Grace. He has worked for Jim Allister since completing his Masters at Queen’s in 2007 and is TUV Press Officer.

He is experienced in political and constituency issues and writes a weekly blog for the Belfast Telegraph.

Locally he organised the successful campaign to put the brakes on the Maze shrine, helping to collect thousands of signatures across Lagan Valley in opposition to it.

“I am delighted to be selected by TUV in Lagan Valley to contest the Westminster election,” said Mr Morrison.

“The vote obtained by TUV last year – where Jim Allister came within a few thousand votes of taking a European seat – demonstrated that our message is resonating with people across Northern Ireland.

“Our achievements at Stormont – Ann’s Law which ensured that convicted terrorists can no longer hold positions as Special Advisers, pensions justice for RUC widows, our exposure of government waste and squander and more recently

“Jim’s work on the DSD committee which has helped expose the DUP’s shameful treatment of one of their own councillors in Lisburn, Jenny Palmer - shows that TUV is a party which is about delivering for the people of Northern Ireland.

“I want to bring that same level of dedication and hard work to Westminster.

“From talking to people locally I know there is still a lot of dissatisfaction with the old parties. Lagan Valley Hospital is being run down and the centre of Lisburn has been left in a dreadful state for months which has had a most negative impact on local business.

“The outgoing MP spent much of the last Parliament trying to persuade us that an IRA shrine at the Maze was nothing to worry about and only changed his tune because of sheer weight of Unionist opposition.

“Just this week the publication of the Northern Ireland Select Committee’s report into the On the Runs scandal reminded us of the profoundly immoral basis of Northern Ireland’s political system and the broken promises of Peter Robinson – who pledged to resign as co-First Minister unless the letters were called in and the names and alleged crimes of recipients published.

“All this and more has led to Unionist discontent with the establishment.

“I want to give a voice to those Unionists who believe that enough is enough.

“With the UUP indistinguishable from the DUP only Traditional Unionist Voice is offering the people of Lagan Valley a real alternative to the failed politics of the past.”

Commenting on Mr Morrison’s selection TUV leader Jim Allister said: “Thousands of people in Lagan Valley kindly voted for me in the European election last year.

“I am now asking them to translate that into a vote on 7th May for Samuel Morrison and thereby strengthen my hand even further.

“I am pleased to recommend Samuel to the electorate of Lagan Valley.

“He is a talented young man who with enthusiasm and vigour necessary to give people the representation they need in Parliament.”