Conservative big hitter shows support for Trimble's Westminster bid

A SHADOW minister tipped for one of the top cabinet posts if the Conservatives win the General Election has visited Lisburn to support Daphne Trimble's bid for the Lagan Valley seat.

Shadow Secretary for Justice Dominic Grieve joined Mrs Trimble as she kicked off her campaign with a walkabout in Lisburn on Friday morning.

Mrs Trimble, joint Conservative and Unionist candidate for Lagan Valley, and Mr Grieve took advantage of the sunny morning to chat to shoppers and spread their message that "a vote for Daphne is a vote for David Cameron".

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Accompanied by her husband, Lord David Trimble, former First Minister, Mrs Trimble said: "I have no doubt that Conservative policies will grow the economy and keep our town centres vibrant much more than anything Gordon Brown has to offer."

The group called in to the long established food retailer Green's Foodfare, where they were given a tour by proprietor Mr Rowan Black.

Mr Grieve is no stranger to Northern Ireland, having come here first as a boy as a guest of T E Uttley when holidaying in Co. Down, and he has visited regularly in recent times as a shadow minister.

Mr Grieve said he was delighted to be in Lisburn and to be helping to bring Northern Ireland into mainstream UK politics. He commented: "We are giving people in Lagan Valley an opportunity to vote for a national party with a national agenda."

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He said he was delighted with the reaction of constituents to the campaign and the link up between the Ulster Unionists and Conservatives.

Jobs and education were at the forefront of Mrs Trimble's message as she canvassed the town centre.

"People are disgusted by the attempts of a Sinn Fein minister to wreck our education and I will work with my colleagues in the Assembly to ensure she does not get her way, and to sort out the problems with the transfer procedure," said Mrs Trimble.

Mr Grieve and Mrs Trimble spoke to a number of young people and encouraged a group of first time voters to make sure they are on the electoral register.

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They also listened to issues affecting local people and Mrs Trimble said if elected she would work hard for the people of Lagan Valley and promised honest politics.

Speaking after the visit Mrs Trimble said: "We were received very positively, and it was good to meet people whose doors I had already been to."

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