ULSTER Unionist Assembly Member Tom Elliott has called for Basil McCrea to be “disciplined” following a string of public attacks. It comes as the leadership contest between the two contenders -- and party colleagues -- turned nasty in recent days.

Mr. Elliott has told The Impartial Reporter that he is “sickened” by Mr. McCrea and “concerned” that the bickering will end the Ulster Unionist Party.

“It’s very bad for the party. I had appealed for a disciplined and positive campaign, I asked that it should be carried out for the benefit of the party and not just the whole public but that has been ignored which is unfortunate. We cannot continue like this and if it continues we will not have a party, it’s as simple as that. Can you imagine what would happen then? We are an inclusive party -- providing members fall in and accept the democratic decisions. I have been an Ulster Unionist member all my life but I find it very difficult to treat Basil as a party colleague at the minute because of what he has done and said.” Last Thursday, Mr. McCrea publicly criticised Mr. Elliott after the Fermanagh MLA said he “wouldn’t go” to a GAA match or Gay Pride event. In a statement, Mr. McCrea accused Mr. Elliott of “adding to the pain” of Peadar Heffernon, the PSNI officer and Gaelic player who suffered horrendous injures when a bomb exploded under his car as he set off for work last year.

“Would Tom Elliott refuse to visit Constable Hefferon or his wife and family because of his links with the GAA? The implied message in Tom Elliott’s criticism of the GAA is that somehow those that play those sports are somehow unacceptable in the society of Northern Ireland. I find that viewpoint as totally at odds with those that want a better future for all in our community,” said Mr. McCrea.

Then Mr. Elliott released a statement saying Mr. McCrea’s comments “rocked me to my foundations” and demanded Mr. McCrea said sorry.

“I was not critical of the GAA as he suggested, I simply suggested I had no affinity for the sport. For Basil to suggest that means I might not wish to seek help from a GAA-playing police officer is not only illogical, it desecrates the memory of those Roman Catholic soldiers with whom I served and shared a uniform during the Troubles. When I heard what Basil was saying about me, I had to pull the car into a lay-by and all I could think about was attending the funerals of colleagues from throughout the community who were murdered by the IRA,” he said.

Asked about the comments which sparked the row, Mr. Elliott told this newspaper: “During the meeting I was asked about my membership of the Orange Order. My answer was I want an inclusive party but once you get into the realms of individual organisations where does it stop? I said you can’t have that. I said as long as members accept our policies there shouldn’t be an issue about what organisation anyone belongs to. I said I wouldn’t go to the Opera, a rugby match, a GAA match or a Gay Pride rally but I have no difficulty with members of our party that do. And that is the context of which it was in. There was no issue with it but Basil decided to mention it to the press,” he explained.

Now Mr. Elliott believes Mr. McCrea should be disciplined immediately for his personal comments.

“It wouldn’t be up to me but I think with issues like that, yes, he should be dealt with. What I would like is that, perhaps, he loses the party whip for a period. You cannot go around slagging off your own members like that.” He added: “What I would be wanting is a much swifter disciplinary code of conduct so we can deal with these things and get them over and done with. I don’t want to see a party that’s basically a dictatorship. I want people to have a little freedom but we do need a disciplined party and that’s why I think the system we have at the minute isn’t working properly. There is an issue that if somebody is talking to reporters and the press privately -- and you keep getting these unnamed sources -- they are quite often difficult to deal with because you don’t know who’s doing it. Just having an idea who it is doesn’t prove anything. For those that talk out openly you can deal with them but those that do it privately, it’s much more difficult.” Mr. McCrea, who launched his leadership campaign officially on Monday, fuelled the argument further yesterday by saying Mr. Elliott was “wrong” to ask for him to apologise.

He told this newspaper: “I have made it quite clear that I think Tom is on the wrong side of the argument on this but I will not go negative on a party colleague. I believe open and transparent debate on policies is the meat and potatoes of politics. I do think the forthcoming election contest is a wonderful opportunity for the party to showcase its thoughts and thinking,” he said.