Jim Nicholson MEP, Conservatives and Unionists candidate in the European election, has described DUP candidate Councillor Dodds as an "agricultural amateur" after her shrill attack on the Conservatives and Unionists standing up for Northern Ireland's farmers.

Mr. Nicholson said, "I am bitterly disappointed that the DUP has decided to engage in political point scoring at time of great difficulty for many of our farmers and rural communities. I will take no lectures on farming issues from Councillor Dodds, the agricultural amateur.

"What this pointless and misleading political attack serves to highlight is, firstly, the extent to which Councillor Dodds is out-of-touch with hard working farm families across Northern Ireland. Secondly, Councillor Dodds is standing on a 39-page manifesto of which only a mere 2 pages refer to European policy issues. Once again, we see just how much out of her depth Diane Dodds is.

"In terms of EU budget reform with regards to agriculture, Conservatives and Unionists want to see a level playing field across Europe, rebalancing the agricultural budget and moving away from a situation where French farmers, for example, receive vast sums in farm subsidies. Councillor Dodds - clearly unaware how the EU agriculture budget operates - is now telling us that she is more interested in defending French farmers than working to reform Europe in the interests of Northern Ireland's farmers.

"Unlike Councillor Dodds, I want to see the agricultural budget strengthen the rural economy and build a sustainable farming sector. That is why I have been a strong and consistent advocate of ensuring that rural development funding stays within agriculture and does not shift to regional affairs.

"Her ill-informed attack demonstrates why Northern Ireland's farmers could never rely on Councillor Dodds to understand - never mind stand-up - for their interests. Our farmers are faced with a stark choice on 4th June - the agricultural amateur Diane Dodds, or Jim Nicholson, the experienced advocate for farmers, working as part of a large UK-wide grouping of Conservative MEPs and with unparalleled access to the next Westminster Government".