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Unionist parties agree poll deal Unionist parties' Euro poll plea
(30 minutes later)
The Ulster Unionist Party and Jim Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice have announced a voting agreement for next year's European election. The UUP and Traditional Unionist Voice have advised their voters to transfer between unionists at next June's European elections.
The move aims to ensure Mr Allister and Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson retain their seats in the poll. The two parties held talks on what they described as a "voting strategy".
Mr Allister's defection from the DUP over power-sharing with Sinn Fein means three unionists will contest the poll. They said this was designed to ensure two unionist MEPs continue to be returned to the European parliament.
The Ulster Unionists and TUV have agreed to work to encourage voting transfers between their two candidates. TUV leader Jim Allister's defection from the DUP in March 2007 over power-sharing with Sinn Féin means three unionists will contest the poll.
Traditionally, the three seats on offer have gone to two unionists and one nationalist.Traditionally, the three seats on offer have gone to two unionists and one nationalist.
The TUV and Ulster Unionist Party said they are concerned to retain the two seats for unionists in the election, which is based on proportional representation.The TUV and Ulster Unionist Party said they are concerned to retain the two seats for unionists in the election, which is based on proportional representation.
This allows voters to select their preferred candidates in numerical order.This allows voters to select their preferred candidates in numerical order.
In a joint statement, Sir Reg and Mr Allister said: "We agreed on the priority of retaining two unionist representatives in Europe. In a joint statement, UUP leader Sir Reg Empey and Mr Allister said: "We agreed on the priority of retaining two unionist representatives in Europe.
"This should be the overriding priority of all unionists in respect of this election. Such is only attainable by full utilisation of transfers between the unionist candidates."This should be the overriding priority of all unionists in respect of this election. Such is only attainable by full utilisation of transfers between the unionist candidates.
"Thus, we agreed to recommend such a voting strategy to all unionist voters.""Thus, we agreed to recommend such a voting strategy to all unionist voters."