THE Chairman of Fermanagh Ulster Unionists has rejected claims that Fermanagh and South Tyrone has been "lost to Unionism", despite Sinn Féin winning the seat by a margin of over 4,000 votes. 

Speaking following last week's general election, James Cooper admitted that the result was "immensely disappointing" for the UPPs Diana Armstrong, but asserted that changes to the electoral boundary meant that taking the seat was "virtually impossible". 

"Diana did an excellent campaign, and she canvassed the length and breadth of our constituency," said Mr. Cooper. 

"But, unfortunately, the reality of the boundary changes was that the hurdle that we had to overcome on this occasion, to take the seat, was virtually impossible. 

"We found that immensely disappointing, as the candidate for Sinn Féin was imported into this constituency, doesn't live in this constituency, and refuses to disassociate her party from the IRA. 

"We are very much of the view that the reality of the position is that no matter who Sinn Fein put forward they will get a vote."

However, the veteran Ulster Unionist disagreed when asked if the Unionist community had "missed their chance" of Unionist representative, and instead claimed that Sinn Féin has "hoodwinked" voters. 

"I don't feel the Unionist community missed the chance," he said. "I believe that this simplistic and bold policy of Sinn Fein has, to some extent, hoodwinked the Nationalist community. 

"Going forward I feel this is a very bad thing."

When asked if the seat was "lost to Unionism" due to these realities, Mr. Cooper asserted that (his party) wouldn't "rule out getting the seat back". 

"Look, you are always going to be disappointed when you don't win, but we have 40 years of experience of the vagaries of this seat," he said. 

"There was a period when Ken Maginnis was MP for a considerable length of time, and we had a period when Tom Elliot was able to win the seat. 

"So,  we do not rule out getting the seat back, but under different circumstances.

"The message of this election throughout Northern Ireland is that change is possible and that it can come from the most unexpected sources."

He continued: "One must always move forward on the basis that the policy of your opposition will ultimately be exposed for what it is. 

"We, as Unionists, will always take the view that the policy of Sinn Féin will have to change, or the electorate will, at some stage decide that it's unsustainable."

When asked how he was feeling personally following the UUP's defeat, Mr. Cooper said: "I am not as distressed as people would to say."