The TUV is contesting 14 of the North’s 19 constituencies. It will not win any of them but it could cause serious damage to the DUP, its leader Gavin Robinson and more widely to unionism
The leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice Jim Allister. He says 'the TUV are not the dividers of unionism'. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Allister and Farage, two political mavericks, come across as natural bedfellows, particularly due to their zealous Brexitphilia and their ability to swing political wrecking balls.UK general election: Sinn Féin aiming to maximise ‘progressive’ MPs in Northern IrelandThe Conservative Effect, 2010-2024: 14 Wasted Years? A damning indictment of Tory rule
Reform’s co-deputy leader Ben Habib, striving for damage limitation, tweeted that his party “stands shoulder to shoulder” with the TUV “and supports all its candidates in Northern Ireland. ALL of them!!” But while mildly entertaining this is a sideshow to what is the main issue of the election campaign in Northern Ireland, and that is who will have the last laugh. The TUV is contesting 14 of the North’s 19 constituencies. It won’t win any of them but it could cause serious damage to the DUP and its leader Gavin Robinson, and more widely to unionism.
In 2019 the DUP’s Paul Girvan won South Antrim with a majority of 2,689 votes from his nearest challenger, the Ulster Unionist Danny Kinahan. This time the UUP is fielding Robin Swann, who made a positive impression as health minister during Covid. It is clear, therefore, there is a lot at stake both for the DUP and for unionism in general. As far as Allister is concerned he is taking a principled stand, to quote TUV election literature, in saying “no to EU and Sinn Féin rule”.
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