Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt has called for an electoral pact with the DUP for next May's British general election to try to maximise unionist representation at Westminster.
Mr Nesbitt used his keynote annual conference speech today to warn that without such an agreement there is a possibility that Belfast could be left without a unionist MP after next May’s poll.
The only unionist seat in the city is North Belfast, held by Nigel Dodds of the DUP. Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey is the MP for West Belfast, SDLP leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell represents South Belfast while Alliance's Naomi Long caused a major shock in the 2010 British general election by taking the seat of DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson.
“The DUP lost East Belfast last time out. There is a real danger they could lose North Belfast next time, and that could leave Belfast, the capital city of this great country without any unionist representation in the House of Commons,” Mr Nesbitt told delegates in the Ramada Hotel in south Belfast.
"That is not acceptable. That is a danger that should galvanise unionism. That is a prospect that should, and has activated our commitment to do what's right for Northern Ireland, " said Mr Nesbitt.
“The Ulster Unionist Party is prepared to support the DUP in north Belfast, because it is the right thing to do for unionism. But in return, we expect them to support us in trying to return the most westerly constituency in the kingdom to unionist control,” he added.
Mr Nesbitt argued the UUP, which has no MP, was now in a position to take Fermanagh South Tyrone, currently is held by Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew. He said the UUP's electoral goal was "to be back in the House of Commons".
“We want Fermanagh South Tyrone. We had a mighty result last May in Fermanagh South Tyrone. We can win the Westminster seat in Fermanagh South Tyrone.”
Mr Nesbitt said the Scottish independence debate should make unionists think deeply about politics and the frequent nationalist argument that a united Ireland is unavoidable. “For decades, policy-makers in London and Dublin have peddled a type of snake oil - a geopolitical snake oil - called the Irish dimension. At its core is the myth that because Ireland is an island, a united Ireland is inevitable,” he said.
“Geography is not destiny. Geography does not determine political outcomes. Yes, geography says Ireland is an island. But no, it does not say the whole island has to be one state - any more than geography says the Iberian peninsula should be a single political entity, so Portugal and Spain have to somehow merge.”
Mr Nesbitt said that the first issue of the talks aimed at breaking the political deadlock which began on Thursday must be the budget. “If we cannot balance our books, there is nothing more to discuss. So let us do it, but with good grace,” he said.
The UUP leader said that notwithstanding continuing opposition from Sinn Féin and the SDLP that the welfare reform debate was over, that it was now Westminster policy. The issue now was to debate it on the floor of the Northern Assembly to make welfare reform fairer.
Mr Nesbitt said the talks also presented an opportunity to create an official opposition at Westminster.
The UUP leader also told delegates that by accepting a loan of £100 million from the British government to get over a budgetary shortfall, the “Sinn Féin/DUP coalition surrendered control of our affairs to Mr George Osborne’s pawn shop”.
He added: "Be in no doubt, our finance minister isn't Simon Hamilton anymore. It's George Osborne, the chancellor. And the DUP accused us of a pact with the Tories?"
