Hermon holds talks over Tory electoral link-up

Sylvia Hermon held talks with party officials

The North Down MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, has held talks with Ulster Unionist officials about her party's electoral link-up with the Conservatives.

The MP has consistently said she would not stand under a joint Conservative and Unionist banner at the next General Election.

She also said she would not take the Tory whip at Westminster.

The two hour meeting at Ulster Unionist Party headquarters in Belfast was attended by party leader Sir Reg Empey.

Lady Hermon told the BBC there was no clear outcome from the meeting in which she repeated her opposition to the electoral link-up.

It is understood that her position will be discussed by party officers on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionists and the Conservatives have issued a joint statement saying 2010 is the year of change.

Both parties also say Northern Ireland should not "be relegated to the margins of United Kingdom politics represented by parties that can never form a government or even hold ministerial office at Westminster".

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