Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey has dismissed "romantic overtures" from new DUP leader Peter Robinson calling for unionist unity.
Mr Robinson had earlier said: “There is much that we [unionist parties] should be co-operating on, working together to advance the cause of unionism to ensure we can maximise the unionist vote, that we can maximise the return that we get.
“If in the future that does bring us so close together that we can have one organisation so be it,” the new DUP leader added.
But, speaking at his party’s AGM in Belfast today, Sir Reg said: “I know, too, that Peter will try and cosy up to us with soft words about co-operation and the need to maximise the overall unionist vote.
“But let no one forget that his fingerprints are on every aspect of the DUP’s tactics and strategies over the past decades. He, personally, ran the propaganda machine that spat out most of the venom at this party.”
Sir Reg branded soundings from the DUP a proposed marriage of convenience aimed at sidelining hard-line unionist MEP Jim Allister who opposes power-sharing with Sinn Féin.
"It may have taken some people almost 40 years to uncover the true nature of the DUP - which can be summed up as a sustained campaign to destroy the UUP - but too many of us in this room know too much about the DUP to be easily swayed by romantic overtures at this stage of the game."
However, he added: “Yes, there are areas in which the DUP and UUP can co-operate. I have no objection to that. But co-operation is a two-way process.
PA