'NEVER NEVER NEVER!'
'NEVER, never, never!' That was Carol Black's answer this week to rumours that she was planning to quit the Ulster Unionists and join the DUP.
Accusing the source of the rumours of "mischief making", the Dromore councillor "categorically" denied any suggestion that she would even consider leaving the UUP.
The denial came amid claims that a disgruntled Ms. Black (pictured below) meant to jump ship after failing to win selection as a potential candidate in next year's Assembly election.
The potential irony in any such move on those grounds would not be lost on local Ulster Unionists, in that it was the Lagan Valley Constituency Association's selection of Ms. Black to succeed Councillor Tyrone Howe, ahead of former party stalwart and 22-year Banbridge council veteran William Martin, that led Mr. Martin to announce his resignation from the UUP and saw the DUP force 2008's Dromore by-election.
In doing so the DUP made good its promise to oppose the co-option of anyone other than Mr. Martin, while he himself considered standing as an Independent in the by-election, before later calling instead for voters to support DUP candidate Paul Stewart.
A DUP source insisted Ms. Black had been talking to the party over a period of days with a view to possibly switching allegiance, but the local councillor, while confirming she had unsuccessfully sought selection as a potential UUP candidate for Lagan Valley in the upcoming election, poured cold water on any claims that she was ready to sign on with the Democratic Unionists.
"I stood as one of four candidates seeking selection as an Ulster Unionist candidate for the Lagan Valley consistuency for the forthcoming Assembly election in 2011," she said. "I was unsuccessful, and while personally disappointed, that, however, is democracy at work.
"I will live to fight another day. I am an Ulster Unionist, end of story; in other words - never, never, never!
"In the meantime, I am still an Ulster Unionist councillor on Banbridge District Council."
Councillor Black wished every success to those party colleagues selected as candidates and pledged to work, in conjunction with the association, to support them.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
