McCallister questions Dodd's European Credentials

John McCallister Ulster Unionist MLA for South Down has questioned Diane Dodd's credentials to serve as an MEP after the publication of the DUP's European manifesto. Mr. McCallister was speaking as he joined Jim Nicholson MEP on the campaign trail in his South Down constituency.

Speaking from the campaign trail Mr. McCallister said:

"An initial analysis of the DUP manifesto clearly illustrates that Councillor Dodds is simply not clued in on European issues. Of the 39 pages in the DUP's manifesto a mere 2 - 2! - address European issues. It is obvious that Councillor Dodds and her team are entirely unaware of all the crucial European issues that affect people's lives everyday in Northern Ireland.

"Councillor Dodds' campaign is clearly in trouble. Having picked a sham fight with the DUP's partners in government - Sinn Fein - Councillor Dodds has went on to attack her former party colleague Jim Allister, and then to attack Jim Nicholson for strengthening the Union through my party's relationship with the Conservatives. Councillor Dodds is obviously well out of her depth.

"In Jim Nicholson's 20 years working as an MEP for the people of Northern Ireland, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge about how Europe works. Working alongside his Conservative colleagues he knows exactly what needs to be done to reform Europe in order to make it work better for the people of Northern Ireland.

"Jim Nicholson is confidently building and strengtheing the Union, and with the backing of the next Conservative Government of the United Kingdom he can make a difference in Europe that Councillor Dodds cannot even dream of".