The North Belfast Ulster Unionist candidate, Mr Fred Cobain, has accused the SDLP of "pure, naked sectarianism" over an election advertisement it placed in yesterday's Irish News claiming it had got rid of the RUC, British symbols in policing, Sir Ronnie Flanagan and the Special Branch.
In the advertisement large red Xs were placed over pictures of the former RUC chief constable, the RUC badge, an RUC officer, and a "Special Branch Top Secret" dossier.
Under the heading "OUT" were placed the words "the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Ronnie Flanagan, British Symbols and Special Branch". And under the heading "IN" were "the Police Ombudsman, new chief constable Mr Hugh Orde, District Policing Partnerships, Policing Board driving Patten, and 2,000 more police jobs for Catholics". The main slogan on the ad was "SDLP. We Get You Change."
Mr Cobain, a Policing Board member, said the SDLP professed to be a moderate and inclusive party but it had sunk to an all-time low with the nakedly sectarian advertisement.
"Most disturbing is the issue of the inclusion of Chief Constable Hugh Orde in their material. Why are the SDLP suggesting the Chief Constable is one of their own?
"Do they not realise the damage this may cause to him and the Police Service in general?" he added.
The SDLP candidate in West Belfast, Mr Alex Attwood, said the ad highlighted the party's record in implementing Patten.