It wasn’t an accident…it was pure bias. The BBC photograph of Sir Reg Empey on the BBC website (as linked to on a post below) was intended to make him appear a used car salesman. TheEye has found a better picture via the Belfast News Letter.

Also it is a positive story. Continuing with the NI UUP/Conservative alliance posts which TheEye is interested in we hear that Sir Reg Empey and Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman Owen Paterson are pushing on with joint ideas.

They urged voters to focus on the opportunities their alliance presented and dismissed criticisms of their new title, ‘Ulster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force’.

Sir Reg said: “This is something that we have been working on for over a year.

“We have come to believe that we are no longer prepared here in Northern Ireland to be two-tier citizens of the UK.”

At a press conference today to officially launch the venture, Mr Paterson repeated a Tory commitment for MPs elected under the new banner to play a central role in any future Conservative government.

Okay, so a Cabinet seat for Lord Trimble was already a certainty, but who else? Ideas? Bets? TheEye will offer odds on this site. Anyone who asks David Vance for advice is automatically disqualified and TheEye will know who you are.

He said: “I am delighted that the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland and the Ulster Unionists have made such great progress in creating a new electoral force in Northern Irish politics.“

“The immediate task is ensuring that the Conservatives and Unionists top the poll in the European elections right across the United Kingdom.”

“The ‘New Force’ tag is likely to be dropped from election literature when MEP Jim Nicholson becomes the first candidate to stand under the united banner when he defends his seat in the June European elections.“

“This is an opportunity, for the first time ever, for people in Northern Ireland to vote for pro-union MPs that will be part of the UK Government” he said.

“That is the aim of every person who wants to be part of the Union.“

Sinn Fein already operates on an all-Ireland basis and has elected representatives in both countries on the island. TheEye wishes to note that Spaniards don’t stand in Gibraltarian elections and Gibraltarians don’t stand for Mayor of Madrid. There may be a hint there. There is no connection between the two places.

The UUP however should entitled to build similar links with their ideological friends in the rest of the United Kingdom.