Ervine will contest assembly elections

Published Sunday, 17 October 2010

The new leader of the PUP has told UTV he intends to contest the East Belfast assembly seat next May against the party's former leader Dawn Purvis, who will be standing as an Independent Unionist.

Brian Ervine, the brother of the late David Ervine, formally took over from interim leader John Kyle at the party conference on Saturday.

Ms Purvis resigned both her leadership and membership of the PUP following the murder of Bobby Moffett by the UVF on the Shankill Road in May.

A number of party members also resigned in the wake of the killing, including senior member Dugald McCullough.

The Independent Monitoring Commission described the killing as a public execution sanctioned by the UVF leadership.

Last month, PUP members voted to maintain their links with the UVF and the Red Hand Commando at a meeting in Belfast.

Mr Ervine says he is optimistic about the electoral future of the PUP.

"I am not so much against Dawn as for the Progressive Unionist Party. I'll be standing not to thwart Dawn but to retain the seat for the PUP against whoever is there," he explained.

Mr Ervine also told UTV he is confident he will not always be compared to his late brother, David, who played a significant role during the peace process.

"I was happy to take a back seat because he did a wonderful job", Brian Ervine said of his brother.

"He produced fruits and they blossomed."

"I'm not attempting to be Ireland's second David Ervine; I'm Ireland's first Brian Ervine."

Comments

7 Comments

Phil in Belfast wrote (949 days ago):

Wayne are you serious? They are the UVF's political wing, the UVF dont speak for anyone but themselves, and if someone speaks against them well you know what happens you get a shotgun emptied into your face like Bobby Moffet.

BIG ERNEST in east antrim wrote (950 days ago):

phil , you are envious of people who hide behind murder and make excuses for it ? the only muppet here is you lad , never forget that , also try learning about morals , something you and sf dont have .

Phil in Belfast wrote (950 days ago):

Whats my voting prefrence got to do with it ? To answer your question no I do not vote for the IRA's political wing!!!! I Am envious of their political machine though when compared to the muppets the loyalist/unionist people have. You know the oul saying 'when the prods were drinking'

phil... who do you vote for then ? dont be embarrassing yourself by saying sf .

Wayne in Newtownabbey wrote (951 days ago):

The PUP is the only party who speaks for Loyalists, so no Phil. We dont need our heads looked at for voting PUP.....

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