ELECTION 2015: REV MARTIN SMYTH ACCUSES DUP CANDIDATE BELL OF ‘PULLING A FAST ONE’

The picture posted on the DUP's Twitter feed of Jonathan Bell MLA and Rev Martin Smyth

The picture posted on the DUP’s Twitter feed of Jonathan Bell MLA and Rev Martin Smyth

FORMER south Belfast Ulster Unionist MP Rev Martin Smyth has accused DUP candidate Jonathan Bell of “pulling a fast one” by getting him to sign his nomination papers.

Mr Bell is standing in Rev Smyth’s former stomping ground of south Belfast where he had long held the Westminster seat.

However, Rev Smyth, the former Grand Master of the Orange Order, accused Mr Bell of misleading him in a row over nomination papers.

On Tuesday, the DUP said Mr Smyth was endorsing their candidate Jonathan Bell and had signed his nomination papers.

The DUP put up a message from the MLA on its Twitter feed, stating: “I am honoured that a senior statesman of Martin Smyth’s stature has signed my nomination papers.”

However, Mr Smyth says he told the DUP he had originally pledged his support to the UUP candidate Rodney McCune.

He also claims he only signed Mr Bell’s nomination papers because he was told he could also sign Mr McCune’s papers.

In recent weeks, DUP and UUP candidates in South Belfast have sought the endorsement of Mr Smyth.

Mr Bell revealed on Tuesday that he had persuaded the former MP to sign his nomination papers.

However, Mr Smyth said on Wednesday that he told Mr Bell he had pledged support to his UUP rival.

Mr Smyth claimed that Mr Bell told him he could sign a number of nomination forms.

In an interview with BBC NI political reporter Stephen Walker, Rev Smyth – who was the last unionist to hold the south Belfast seat – said he felt the DUP had misled him and he wanted them to withdraw his name.

“I think that Jonathan Bell was trying a fast one – they would be wise withdrawing my name,” he said.

Mr Bell has since said it was an honest mistake and he was removing Mr Smyth’s name from his nomination papers.

In response, the UUP candidate Rodney McCune said he believed the DUP had been opportunistic.

Meanwhile, SDLP leader Dr Alisdair McDonnell handed in his papers at the Electoral Office.

He hopes to retain his south Belfast seat in what is being seen as a fiercely contested constituency.

Dr McDonnell will face a tough challenge from former Sinn Fein Belfast Lord Mayor Mairtin O’Muilleoir.

None of the standing parties would agree on electoral pacts which means the seat will be a four horse race between McDonnell, O’Muilleoir, Rodney McCune and Jonathan Bell

 

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