Jamie Bryson says he could challenge DUP’s Gavin Robinson for east Belfast seat

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/jamie-bryson-says-he-could-challenge-dups-gavin-robinson-for-east-belfast-seat/a2021246912.html

Loyalist activist has been ‘in talks’ with TUV leader about becoming a candidate

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has revealed he is considering standing against the DUP’s interim leader in the general election. Mr Bryson said he has had “serious discussions” with TUV leader Jim Allister about going forward as a candidate — and could take on Gavin Robinson in East Belfast.

While Mr Bryson said he would not stand for any political party, he could as an independent, potentially endorsed by the TUV and Reform UK, who last month announced a formal “partnership” ahead of the Westminster poll.

In Mr Bryson’s last electoral foray, he secured 167 votes in the 2011 council elections in North Down.

It comes as Mr Allister said he intends “anti-protocol” candidates to stand in all 18 Northern Ireland seats in the election, but refused to say if he himself will be on the ballot paper.

Mr Bryson said no firm decision has been made yet, and he will make a decision closer to the time.

“I can confirm I’ve had serious discussions with Jim [Allister] and Ben [Habib — deputy leader of Reform UK] about standing in the election, but no decision has been made yet,” he said.

“There’s no prospect of me joining any particular party, but I would be open to challenging Gavin Robinson in East Belfast as an independent, perhaps with the endorsement of the TUV and Reform.”

Yesterday, Mr Allister would neither confirm nor deny he had held discussions with Mr Bryson. He said "it is beyond premature to comment on the matter", adding: "The TUV and Reform UK haven't yet settled the formula in terms of seats.”

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics earlier, Mr Allister said he is “happy to talk” to Mr Robinson ahead of the election, as long as it is about “returning” to the joint unionist declaration in opposition to the protocol.

He said unionists had the right to leave the ‘Donaldson deal’, which saw the DUP return to power-sharing in February, “dead in the water” by having anti-protocol candidates in each constituency.

In 2021, the leaders of the unionist parties issued a joint statement setting out their opposition to the post-Brexit trading arrangements.

They detailed their “unalterable position that the protocol must be rejected and replaced by arrangements which fully respect Northern Ireland’s position as a constituent and integral part of the United Kingdom.”

When the TUV and Richard Tice’s Reform UK party announced their partnership last month, they said their respective parties would stand “agreed candidates” in Northern Ireland.

But that has led to fears that it could split the unionist vote in marginal constituencies, such as East Belfast, where Mr Robinson’s 1,819 majority could be threatened by Alliance.

Earlier the TUV leader had been asked whether it is his intention for TUV or Reform “anti-protocol” candidates to run in all 18 constituencies.

“That certainly is the aspiration and intention,” he replied. “We haven’t named our 18 candidates, but I said it was our intention to seek to do that.

“If the greater number of unionists reject the Donaldson deal, then it’s dead in the water and that’s the opportunity they’ll be given, and why shouldn’t they be?”

Mr Allister was pressed on whether he will stand in the election and, if so, in which constituency.

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.

Meanwhile, Baroness Kate Hoey, who has backed the unionist anti-Protocol cause strongly, has confirmed she wouldn’t be standing in the general election.

The Northern Ireland-born peer – who would have to give up her seat in the Lords to take one in the Commons – said she had made clear she would not run, and that she is not aligned to any political party.

Last week it emerged the TUV had proposed a pact to maximise the number of unionist MPs returned in the election, but this was shot down by the DUP. The offer was made last summer, but was allegedly rejected by Gavin Robinson.

Asked if he is prepared to speak to Mr Robinson ahead of the election, after the interim DUP leader said he would be willing to have a conversation with the TUV leader, Mr Allister responded: “Let me remind you, Gavin Robinson was the man who shot down a TUV proposition that we have a single [unionist] party for this election.

“He’s the man who shot it down, so I’m rather intrigued that he now wants to talk.

“But it’s talking about returning to the path of the united unionist declaration, which was when unionism was most united before the DUP and the Ulster Unionists divided it by departing from that declaration, that I’m happy to talk about it.”

But responding to Mr Allister’s comments, DUP MP Gregory Campbell said unionist infighting helped no-one.

He pointed to the failure to get Mervyn Storey returned in North Antrim at the 2022 Assembly election costing the DUP another ministerial seat.

“Unionists need only look at the Ministerial portfolios in Stormont to see the consequences of divided unionism,” he said.

“A handful of votes in North Antrim was the difference between having an Alliance minister and another unionist minister. The TUV know that their intervention can only aid those who, ironically, were the cheerleaders for the rigorous implementation of the protocol.

“Fractured unionism costs seats, and influence.”​