The offer of an electoral pact between parties backing the Belfast Agreement remained open today as the North's parties prepared to nominate Westminster candidates.
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Leader of the Alliance Party Mr Sean Neeson
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Alliance Party leader Mr Sean Neeson today offered 11th-hour talks on the nomination of agreed pro-Agreement candidates despite no reciprocal moves by Ulster Unionists and the SDLP.
Mr Neeson, whose party has stepped aside in five constituencies in favour of pro-Agreement candidates, said it was still possible to reach deals in key battlegrounds such as North Down, East Belfast and South Belfast.
The East Antrim Assembly member said: "The door is still open to talks on this issue as we approach nomination time.
"I honestly think Alliance has gone as far as it can in reaching out to the other parties and make concessions to ensure as many as pro-Agreement MPs are returned.
"I would like to see recognition of what we have done and recognition of how important it is to return as many pro-Agreement MPs as possible."
The Alliance Party would like former Belfast Lord Mayor Mr David Alderdice to have a clear run at Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson in East Belfast, with the UUP and SDLP standing aside.
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But the party has faced calls from the Ulster Unionists to step down in East Belfast in favour of its candidate, Mr Tim Lemon.
The UUP also wants the Alliance's candidate in North Down, Mr Stephen Farry, to step down to boost the vote of its candidate Ms Sylvia Hermon, wife of the RUC Chief Constable Sir John Hermon, as she tries to oust UK Unionist leader Mr Robert McCartney.
Mr Neeson, who has held talks with the Ulster Unionists, today criticised the SDLP's response to his party's idea of an electoral pact.
The East Antrim MLA argued: "I think it is unfortunate when we embarked on this exercise two months ago the SDLP in particular did not grasp the opportunity to at least engage with ourselves.
"The SDLP could have done a lot more to assist other pro-Agreement parties instead of pursuing their own interests," Mr Neeson said.
PA