Allister in UUP pact to beat DUP; POLITICS.

ULSTER Unionists have made an electoral pact with rebel unionist Jim Allister in a bid to unseat the DUP in Europe.

They are asking voters to give their transfers to Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice party at next year's European election.

MEP Allister is seeking to retain the seat he won when still in the DUP.

The bid to freeze out the DUP was agreed at a face-to-face meeting between UUP leader Sir Reg Empey and Mr Allister.

A joint statement said they had a "worthwhile and cordial engagement".

It added: "With the European election, as the next scheduled, coming up in June, we agreed on the priority of retaining two unionist representatives in Europe."