McClure in unity call

He said: “We must agree candidates in key constituencies including South Belfast and Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

"I am continually met by people in the Coleraine area, Unionists, who tell me what they clearly want and that is agreed candidates in constituencies where a Unionist can re-take a seat from Sinn Fein or the SDLP.

Surveys also show strong Unionist support for a DUP-UUP pact.

"We must respond to the grassroots Unionist opinion of ordinary people who are saying overwhelmingly that they want to see Unionist unity and I want to see that unity brought about expeditiously.”

Alderman McClure admits there are differences of opinion between the UUP and the Ulster Unionists but argues that these must be set aside to secure Unionisms place as the major force in Ulster politics.

“The majority of people in this Province are Unionists and in order to attract more voters back we must demonstrate a united, coherent and vibrant Unionism,” he said.