General Election: North Down rows over leaflets, the Protocol and a pledge for more bank holidays

UUP election literature initially sparked a war of words between the rivals – with Mr Easton disputing the figures used by the party.

The UUP denies that – and has hit back over a pledge in their rival’s leaflets promising to “introduce between one and four new bank holidays”.

UUP councillor Craig Blaney said it was “perplexing to read” the vow. He said it “is well within the realms of fantasy politics… not only is there no chance of an independent MP securing a motion to debate a new bank holiday but Mr. Easton’s inability to work out for himself whether he wants 1 or 4 established, makes a mockery of the suggestion of any.

“Why not push for 5 and give the whole week off, why not 10? It’s so ridiculous that it makes me question if it has been published in error”.

In today’s News Letter Tim Collins sets out his view on the Irish Sea border, suggesting that the protocol may not ever be removed – despite that being the aim of the Ulster Unionist Party.

It all comes after Alex Easton – an independent with the backing of the DUP and TUV – criticised the use in election literature of initial polling for the constituency by polling company Electoral Calculus. The organisation told Mr Easton that “due to an error on our side, incorrect predictions” had appeared on their website – and apologised.

A response from the company was posted on his social media, saying: “I believe the UUP may have used those incorrect figures in their party publicity, without being aware the figures were incorrect.

“The correct figures have been available on our website since 15.45 on Saturday.

“The previous poll was not able to contain detailed information about exactly which parties and candidates will be standing in each seat, so the seat predictions were necessarily generic”.

Despite that, Mr Easton told the News Letter: “I am disappointed in the UUP they promised me no dirty tactics and that hasn’t happened.

“I know their figures were wrong for the polling and when I got confirmation of that I had hopes they would have removed these inaccurate and false figures. I am asking them to do so and asking them to fight the election in a fair way”.

Mr Easton’s literature uses 2019 general election results to make the argument that he is the chief contender to replace Alliance in the constituency.

An Ulster Unionist spokesperson rejected Mr Easton’s criticism, saying: “Both polls so far produced by Electoral Calculus clearly show the Ulster Unionist Party outpolling the independent Unionist candidate.

“In the First poll, the UUP were given 35.9% and the Independent Unionist had 24.8 %.

“The second poll, which included the DUP, had UUP on 25.1% and the Independent Unionist on 14%

“Both polls make it clear that the only Unionist who has a chance to retake the seat on July 4th is Tim Collins.

“Whether we use the poll that puts the independent unionist on 14% or 24.8%, the indication is exactly the same”.

Last week, Alex Easton’s position on the Protocol came under increased scrutiny after he said that the DUP’s ‘Safeguarding the Union’ deal is a “work in progress” after initially declining to make his position on the deal clear the week before.

The Ulster Unionists had accused the independent MLA of sitting on the fence – while the Alliance deputy leader said that his views suggest an alignment with the TUV.

Alex Easton’s election literature says Northern Ireland “should deal with the European Union on the same terms as the rest of the United Kingdom”.

He has also questioned exactly where the retired colonel stands on the post-Brexit trade arrangements.

In an article in today’s News Letter Mr Collins says that the Irish Sea border isn’t the greatest threat to the Union.

He says the threat comes “from MPs in Great Britain beginning to regard us as a burden and an obstacle to progress” – and argues that his party wants the Protocol to go away “as much as it ever can”.

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