THE Ulster Unionist deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, said yesterday people in Northern Ireland would be very confused by the proposed hybrid electoral system. He said it was the decision of a government which "just cannot make up its mind" and has reached a "confusing compromise".
Mr Taylor said his party had lost trust in the British government because it has been withholding information.
"We have very little trust in the Secretary of State and the manner in which the government deals with us as the major party in Northern Ireland. When we meet them they don't really tell us what they are about to announce a few days later. There just is no trust between us and the government."
His party had not known about the consultation document before it was published even though the UUP had been speaking to the British and Irish governments.
"We were down in Dublin speaking to Mr Bruton. We presented him with various ideas and he never let on to us that he had almost completed negotiations with the London government on that consultation paper.
The proposed electoral system is not one which his party would have preferred, he said on RTE radio yesterday.
"We think it is going to be very confusing for the people of Northern Ireland who may have to vote in three different ways on polling day. They may have to vote by the single transferable vote system which is the one that you understand in the Republic. They may have to vote by the list system and there may also be a referendum so when you go into the polling booth you will have to vote three different ways. This is very confusing.
He denied his party had been confident, following strong lobbying, that Westminster style elections to a 90 member forum in the North would be carried.
Mr Taylor said he did not know if people will be electing negotiators. "I can't answer that because the consultation paper does not explain it. It does not define how the negotiating teams are appointed. The whole thing is very badly structured. The two governments are acting very badly at the moment, leaving everyone in a state of confusion."