Fighting Talk
They had no choice, so the Conservatives and Unionists came out fighting. Sir Reg Empey accused the party's opponents who have been exploiting David Cameron's Friday night comments of being "hypocrites" who had voiced similar sentiments themselves.
William Hague followed through insisting rebalancing the economy could take 25 years "to do nothing would be irresponsible. But to do anything too quickly would be reckless too."
Although the row gave the manifesto launch a pugilistic tone, some of the ideas are very similar to those proferred by the other parties - for example, lowering the local rate of corporation tax. However because they know they might be in power the Conservatives and Unionists have had to word this section more carefully and ambiguously than other local parties.
Instead of declaring backing for, say, a 10% or 12.5% corporation tax rate they committ to "produce a government paper examining the mechanism for changing the corporation tax rate". When it comes to making Northern Ireland an economic enterprise zone thisis something they will "look at".
Not a political point per se, but the manifesto lauch was at Mossley Mill, home to Newtownabbey Council and the Theatre at the Mill. Today was my first visit to the Mill and I must say it is a very impressive development, really making the best of the potential in the old mill building.
I'm 
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