'Seats belong to the people'

FROM: David Calvert

In response to the letter from R Linton McFadden who called on TUV to stand aside in the Assembly election, the first thing to say is that seats belong to the people, not political parties.

He/she should realise that there is no such thing as a UUP seat. In 1983 when Jim Wells DUP got 4,547 votes to the UUP’s 24,888 then by your logic the DUP should have accepted that Upper Bann was a UUP seat. No need for any more elections! Does this person not believe in democracy?

For someone who expresses concern about Unionists losing an Assembly seat to Sinn Fein it is strange that this person is not on the Electoral Register. Either this will be a lost vote or he/she is too young to vote, which would explain their inexperience in understanding the voting system. No doubt he/she is simply parroting the views of others who have their own agenda. Your correspondent should concentrate instead on maximising the Unionist turn out if he/she wants to keep Sinn Fein out. If this person would like to contact me I will be happy to take time to explain how proportional representation can work to the benefit of the Unionist people.

Under proportional representation you “cannot split the vote” - you simply give your lower preferences to the other unionist candidates whereby every vote is counted. A TUV candidate in Upper Bann will ensure an increase in the overall Unionist vote and also an increase in the quota (that is the votes required to be elected). This will have the effect of making it even more difficult to get a second Sinn Fein elected. And when either a UUP or DUP candidate is eliminated these votes can be passed on to the TUV to ensure their election. Remember TUV opposes Sinn Fein 24/7, not just at election times.

Elections are all about choice and the right to elect those in whom you can put your trust. Everyone has the right to put forward their political views. Indeed this is the recently expressed view of Dr Paisley, with which all democrats should agree. Why would an anti-agreement voter who is opposed to Sinn Fein/IRA in government wish to support the UUP or DUP who both believe in placing terrorist supporters in a power sharing Executive to rule over us? We live in a democracy, not some third rate communist country, and the people will not be dictated to by any Unionist party who they will vote for. Freedom of expression and of choice must be paramount.

Calls about splitting the vote and for TUV to stand aside are the usual scare tactics employed at election times. No doubt DUP will soon be issuing statements warning against Martin McGuinness becoming First Minister when he is already, courtesy of the DUP, joint First Minister with Peter Robinson.

The reality of the situation is, there are four Unionist quotas in Upper Bann. The only way in which that can change is if Unionists don’t come out to vote. Therefore it is paramount that TUV do stand to ensure the maximum Unionist vote.

Finally, this same letter appeared in another paper anonymously, the name of the writer being withheld. I find this very strange. Perhaps in the interest of clarity would the author please state their address and what party they represent. I remain to be convinced that this letter has a genuine motive.

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