Mr McCrea said “The Belfast Agreement of 1998 which was negotiated and supported by the UUP failed to deliver for Unionism. During those dark days of a weak unionist leadership Republicans were unchallenged in their criminality, Sinn Fein Ministers were unaccountable to the Assembly, and the IRA continued to operate armed to the teeth, so much for ‘No guns, no government.’

“The failures and folly of the UUP during what became an ‘appeasement process’ have added to the difficulties that we face today but since the DUP took up the mantle of leading the Unionist people the tide has turned.

“Since the DUP came to power we have addressed many of the errors of the UUP and have demanded things which the UUP hadn’t even attempted before. We have secured a deal that is better for the Union, better for Ulster and better for the people of Ulster. As we continue to fight our corner for our people and for our beloved Province we have made our election slogan “getting it right” a reality. We have secured the Union, stood in the defence of our Ulster-British heritage and delivered on the bread and butter issues.

“We have forced Sinn Fein down the road to democracy whereby they had no other option but to support the Police and rule of law, this is the very same rule of law that for years they opposed with the vilest of aggression. But not only do they now recognise the ‘powers that be’ but they are now servants in the administration of British rule in Northern Ireland. Is it any wonder that they are starting to show signs of dissention, notably the resignation of one of their MLA’s Gerry McHugh who said:

““I feel the direction Sinn Fein is taking is more about appeasement of the British government and administrating British rule in Ireland rather than working towards the end of British occupation. Assembly structures support this - at both committee and plenary level unionists have majority control.”

“Gerry McHugh has certainly got it right that it is the DUP who are in control of the decisions that come before the Executive or the Assembly.

“The DUP has seen off the empty threat of an Irish Language Act and has brought about with a new emphasis on east-west relations. The Union is not under threat but in fact strengthened.

“With regard to the Eames/Bradley proposal the DUP repudiate the IRAs campaign to be recognised as a ‘war’ and the terrorists involved as ‘soldiers’. In no way and at no time have the DUP ever accepted the possibility of an amnesty for terrorists. We are still opposed to any such suggestion of letting terrorists off the hook for their offences; no one should be above the law and everyone subject to the law.

“The UUP would do well to reflect on the failures of their own party during an era when they were in the ascendancy.