The Conservatives and Unionists candidate for North Antrim, Irwin Armstrong, has responded to the DUP's manifesto launch.

"This document emphasises why we badly need a change of political direction in North Antrim. Not only is the DUP's manifesto economically illiterate, its brass neck when it comes to expenses is scarcely believable!

While other parties have at least shown some contrition for exploiting the expenses system, the DUP is still trying to justify its behaviour! In fact it claims its MPs' expenses "were of an entirely different nature" to those of other MPs. What arrogance!

While people in North Antrim work hard and struggle to pay their weekly food bills, our outgoing MP repeatedly claimed £400 worth of food a month for the short time he actually turned up to Westminster. His son was forced to resign as junior minister after constant questions about his relationship with a property developer.

After forty years of DUP/Paisley domination the last major international investment in this area was before Ian Paisley won our Westminster seat, the major hospital was lost to Antrim, the Army barracks closed, the local tax office is now closed, Ballymoney has lost much of its manufacturing industry and the side roads are in an appalling state. In contrast the Paisley dynasty's chief legacy to North Antrim is a plush DUP constituency office in Ballymena. As one local man on the doorsteps summed it up '£60,000 a year for their office from the tax payer and I struggle to meet my bills'.

Voters in North Antrim are not fools. Many people I speak to on the doorsteps are angry about the expenses scandal and they know that the DUP are up to their necks in it. They want change and an end to dynasty, coat tail politics.

I, as a first time candidate and business owner, offer a chance for a new, transparent style of politics in North Antrim. I will publish my expenses monthly, so that every constituent can assess how they are being represented and every taxpayer can find out how their money is being spent and I will publish a monthly summary of my work for the people of North Antrim.

Irwin Armstrong, Conservatives and Unionists candidate for North Antrim, has said that the DUP's "invisible men" needn't think they're scoring points for candidate profiles in this election.

"We hear about the DUP out knocking on doors during this election, but it's become something of an urban legend - talked about but never seen.

"Likewise their candidates' spots on political programmes have been filled by a limited selection of the old guard and even those not running in this election.

"The cloak of invisibility has enveloped the Disappearing Unionist Party, and trying to deflect on to Sir Reg Empey is not a winning strategy.

"Last week Willie McCrea tried and failed to make mischief out of Sir Reg Empey's non appearance for a Good Morning Ulster BBC radio show, claiming that Sir Reg was somehow "on the run" from ordinary voters.

"Sir Reg comprehensively demolished McCrea's claims by pointing out that he had been involved in numerous media appearances and interviews and has canvassed South Antrim extensively. However, it would be unheard of for the DUP to let the facts get in the way of a bit of mud-slinging.

"If Willie feels the need to send out a search party for anyone, he'd be better served urgently directing it into North Antrim.

"Ian Paisley junior failed to attend the debate on 7FM Radio Station, broadcast two Saturdays ago, with the four other main candidates in attendance. He then failed to turn up at the High Kirk Church on Friday night in front of 250 people when ALL the other candidates did. In the end, the hustings went ahead with an empty chair where he should have been.

"The only place he turned up was on UTV. Maybe if his constituency events were televised the people of North Antrim might enjoy more of his attention."