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PUP link now untenable - Birnie UUP-PUP link 'against the rules'
(about 1 hour later)
An Ulster Unionist assembly member has said he now believes the party's assembly alliance with the Progressive Unionist Party is "untenable". The assembly speaker Eileen Bell has ruled that the assembly link between the UUP and the PUP is contrary to the rules of the assembly.
The Ulster Unionists have came under widespread pressure after allowing PUP leader David Ervine to join their assembly group earlier this year. She said the reason for the ruling was the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group did not have the characteristics of a party as laid down in legislation.
The act she referred to was the Political Parties, elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Mrs Bell said she had sought legal advice ahead of her decision.
She said the UUPAG, which was formed as a result of the alliance, did not have a headquarters, at least one party leader and a scheme for financial support.
The Ulster Unionists had came under widespread pressure after allowing PUP leader David Ervine to join their assembly group earlier this year.
The PUP is aligned with the loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force.
At the weekend, an Ulster Unionist assembly member said he now believed the party's assembly alliance with the PUP was "untenable".
'Negatives'
Assembly member Esmond Birnie said the section of the latest IMC report dealing with UVF activity was "grim".Assembly member Esmond Birnie said the section of the latest IMC report dealing with UVF activity was "grim".
He said it contained so many negatives that the link could not be maintained.He said it contained so many negatives that the link could not be maintained.
"I am someone who has said previously that the UUP pact with the PUP would always have to be conditional and subject to rigorous evaluation in the light of events."I am someone who has said previously that the UUP pact with the PUP would always have to be conditional and subject to rigorous evaluation in the light of events.
"The litany of events over the last four months has been deeply disturbing," Mr Birnie said."The litany of events over the last four months has been deeply disturbing," Mr Birnie said.
"As it stands at the moment I believe that this report renders the UUP's pact with the PUP untenable, and I await the speaker's ruling on whether that pact is permissible under the Rules of the Assembly in any case". "As it stands at the moment I believe that this report renders the UUP's pact with the PUP untenable."
The party's only MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, has previously called for the link to be severed The party's only MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, had previously called for the link to be severed
In June, the former Young Unionist chairman Peter Bowles left the UUP in protest at the link.In June, the former Young Unionist chairman Peter Bowles left the UUP in protest at the link.
The Ulster Unionist leadership has said the assembly alliance with the PUP does not represent an arrangement with the UVF.The Ulster Unionist leadership has said the assembly alliance with the PUP does not represent an arrangement with the UVF.
Party leader Sir Reg Empey has said the long-term goal of the link was to end loyalist paramilitarism.Party leader Sir Reg Empey has said the long-term goal of the link was to end loyalist paramilitarism.