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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Unionist parties' Euro poll plea | Unionist parties' Euro poll plea |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UUP and Traditional Unionist Voice have advised their voters to transfer between unionists at next June's European elections. | The UUP and Traditional Unionist Voice have advised their voters to transfer between unionists at next June's European elections. |
| The two parties held talks on what they described as a "voting strategy". | The two parties held talks on what they described as a "voting strategy". |
| They said this was designed to ensure two unionist MEPs continue to be returned to the European parliament. | They said this was designed to ensure two unionist MEPs continue to be returned to the European parliament. |
| 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. | 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, UUP leader Sir Reg Empey 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. |
| It is clear that the DUP, as the largest unionist Party, is best placed to ensure that unionism once again tops the poll in Europe and keeps unionism ahead DUP statement | |
| "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." |
| A DUP spokesman said: "It is clear that the DUP, as the largest unionist party, is best placed to ensure that unionism once again tops the poll in Europe and keeps unionism ahead." |