Michelle Gildernew speaking in Enniskillen
MICHELLE Gildernew has labelled agreed unionist candidate Tom Elliott a “dinosaur” and “desperate” following comments he made during an unionist rally in which he accused the Sinn Fein MP of doing nothing for Fermanagh.
The UUP candidate was speaking at the rally in Kesh which was attended by DUP Minster, Arlene Foster and chaired by the County Grandmaster for the Orange Order, Stuart Brooker and Alex Elliott of the hardline unionist grouping Traditional Unionist Voice
The Sinn Fein MP claimed Mr Elliott was “a bit desperate”.
“I think he knows that I am getting very positive feedback,” she said.
“I don’t want to be negative but I just pass no remarks. At the end of the day, Tom’s got one vote. I’m out there talking to hundreds of people who also have one vote and collectively those are the people that I am trying to impress and impressing Tom Elliott isn’t really high on my agenda.
“It’s the people who know the work I have done and canvass teams are reporting all over that people right across Fermanagh South Tyrone are saying tell Michelle thanks she done (sic) work for us, we appreciate it and she will be getting our vote.
“I know the truth and Tom can spin it all he wants or be negative as much as he wants. It’s interesting to see that most of his comments made last night (Wednesday) were about me so I am obviously getting under his skin. I am focussed on the electorate. What Tom says and does isn’t really a concern.”
The MP also labelled him a “dinosaur” over what she claimed was his position on equal marriage.
She accused Mr Elliott of “alienating” and “chasing a lot of people” out of the Fermanagh and South Tyrone area.
And Ms Gildernew dismissed claims that she does not represent local people and that she was running a negative campaign against the unionist candidate .
Mr Elliott told the Fermanagh Herald: “I don’t think it’s helpful for her to attack me in this way. I said she hasn’t done anything for Fermanagh and South Tyrone regarding people at Westminster. They complain about a poor welfare budget but we are in Westminster fighting for it. It’s difficult for her to make a positive case when she has running a negative campaign against me. She has nothing positive to say or do. What has she done except attack me.”
Summing up the past several weeks in her election campaign, she concluded: “I suppose I would say it was hectic, exhausting, but very empowering. I miss the wee ones and my husband but I have loved being on the doorsteps. I love chatting to people and you meet some characters.”
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