An SDLP Assembly candidate was today asked to withdraw "insulting remarks" about the Conservative Party's leader Mr Iain Duncan Smith as he prepared for a crucial vote.
Northern Ireland Conservatives described as "highly offensive" comments from East Derry candidate Mr John Dallat that Mr Duncan Smith had proven himself "to be a consistent enemy of peace and progress" in Northern Ireland.
"He voted against police reform. He has cynically opposed human rights legislation," Mr Dallat claimed.
"The plain fact is, anyone they pick is unlikely to be any worse than Iain Duncan Smith whose attitude to the people of the North seems shaped by nothing more than his tour of duty here when he looked at us across the barrel of a gun."
The chairman for the Northern Ireland Conservatives, Mr Julian Robertson, said he was surprised by Mr Dallat's comments and he was asking him to withdraw them.
"Mr Dallat's remarks that Iain Duncan Smith's view of Northern Irelandwas shaped by looking at people through the sight of a rifle...is downrightoffensive," he said.
Mr Duncan Smith had served in Northern Ireland as a soldier.
The Conservative Party is running seven candidates in the Assembly elections on November 26th. They are contesting: South Antrim, East Antrim, Lagan Valley, East Belfast, South Belfast, Strangford and North Down.