The DUP has announced its intention to contest the North Belfast constituency in the next Westminster election and yesterday demanded the Ulster Unionist Party give way to prevent a split in the unionist vote.
The party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said it was clear from recent election results that the party candidate, the DUP Assembly member for North Belfast, Mr Nigel Dodds, could win the election.
The Ulster Unionist incumbent, Mr Cecil Walker, should give the DUP a clear run, Dr Paisley said. "The North Belfast unionist community deserves a working representative. We must not have a representative who is non-attending and non-working in Westminster."
It is widely accepted in political circles that Mr Walker will not be seeking re-election, and the UUP will have to field a fresh candidate. The DUP announcement signals an end to the bipartisan approach taken by the UUP and the DUP in attempting to prevent Sinn Fein from gaining seats in Westminster, although there was never an explicit electoral pact between the parties.
"Nigel Dodds was soundly defeated in East Antrim in 1992. He can be soundly beaten again if he so wishes," said Mr Fred Cobain, the UUP Assembly member for North Belfast.
Mr David Browne, the UUP chairman of the North Belfast constituency, said Mr Dodds had "a sheer cheek" to suggest that the party should withdraw from the race, and that it would be "on his own head" if Sinn Fein gained a seat because of his candidacy.
The SDLP Assembly member for the area, Mr Alban Maginness, who came second in the 1997 Westminster election, said he would also be contesting the seat again.
Mr Dodds said yesterday that he had polled a wide margin over the Ulster Unionists in the last two local elections, and it was very clear he was the electorate's choice in North Belfast.
The deputy DUP leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said there was a simple choice for the electorate in North Belfast. "They can have Gerry Kelly or Nigel Dodds."