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11/09/2009
Parsley Leaves Alliance
Former Alliance MEP candidate Ian Parsley has left the party.
Mr Parsley, a North Down councillor, is expected to change his party designation to Conservative.
He had worked as a policy officer for the cross-community Alliance Party, but will now take up a role within the Tories' new Centre for Social Justice think-tank.
There is mounting speculation Mr Parlsey will be fielded as the UUP-Tory candidate in the North Down parliamentary ward at the next general election.
He would be pitted against incumbent UUP MP Lady Hermon who has made her opposition to the party link-up known publicly.
Mr Parsley, deputy mayor of North Down, acknowledged he had been elected to the council as an Alliance representative.
On Friday, the BBC claimed it had seen an email suggesting Mr Parsley had been assessed as an Ulster Conservative and Unionist New Force candidate.
Alliance leader David Ford has expressed his disappointment at the news.
"Whatever they may say about creating a shared future, UCUNF is still a sectarian group. There are huge contradictions between the delusions of some Conservatives that think they are anti-sectarian, and the 1950s-style bigotry still coming from Ulster Unionists elements.
"I fear Ian will find this contradiction more and more difficult to live with as time goes on," said Mr Ford.
"He has left a promising political career to stumble down a blind alley. It is sad to see an up and coming politician move to a marginal party with minimal prospects."
(PR/GK)
Mr Parsley, a North Down councillor, is expected to change his party designation to Conservative.
He had worked as a policy officer for the cross-community Alliance Party, but will now take up a role within the Tories' new Centre for Social Justice think-tank.
There is mounting speculation Mr Parlsey will be fielded as the UUP-Tory candidate in the North Down parliamentary ward at the next general election.
He would be pitted against incumbent UUP MP Lady Hermon who has made her opposition to the party link-up known publicly.
Mr Parsley, deputy mayor of North Down, acknowledged he had been elected to the council as an Alliance representative.
On Friday, the BBC claimed it had seen an email suggesting Mr Parsley had been assessed as an Ulster Conservative and Unionist New Force candidate.
Alliance leader David Ford has expressed his disappointment at the news.
"Whatever they may say about creating a shared future, UCUNF is still a sectarian group. There are huge contradictions between the delusions of some Conservatives that think they are anti-sectarian, and the 1950s-style bigotry still coming from Ulster Unionists elements.
"I fear Ian will find this contradiction more and more difficult to live with as time goes on," said Mr Ford.
"He has left a promising political career to stumble down a blind alley. It is sad to see an up and coming politician move to a marginal party with minimal prospects."
(PR/GK)
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