A PROMINENT DUP politician has provoked a storm of criticism after tweeting that an online subscription to the Irish News should only be given to someone you "really hate".
Responding to an Irish News tweet on Saturday which said: "Give the gift of The Irish News this Christmas!" South Belfast representative Christopher Stalford remarked: "Only if you really hate the person you’re giving it to".
His comments provoked a late night Twitter furore, with one user describing the remark as "straight out of the Donald Trump handbook".
Some hours later Mr Stalford's colleague and former health minister and DUP negotiator Edwin Poots also tweeted that an online subscription was not a Christmas present he would like to receive.
"That’s not a gift, you would have to be very naughty all year for Santa to leave you that, in the old days they used to put ashes in the stockings for such badly behaved children," he said.
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson said the earlier comments by Mr Stalford showed him as someone who was "seriously scraping the barrel", while party colleague and Belfast councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown? described it as " really ill-judged".
"Journalists are crucial in holding power to account. Their work serves us all. We need more of it in our politics. I dislike plenty I see editorially but I believe in a free press. Bad form C," he wrote.
In response to being challenged Mr Stalford urged the Alliance councillor to "catch a grip", a comment liked by DUP MLA Carla Lockhart.
"Saying I’m not fond of a particular publication now equals an attack on freedom of the press? Catch a grip."
"PS. If someone savages The Sun or The Daily Mail would you be saying the same? Get off your high horse!"
When challenged by others the South Belfast MLA said he would recommend the Daily Telegraph adding: "If it’s balanced analysis you’re looking for you won’t get it in The Irish News, though it does have some very good people, nor the BBC for that matter."
"We had The Daily Telegraph and The Irish News in our school common room. I’ve been a Telegraph reader since," he added.
Among those to defend the Irish News was trade union official Séamus Dooley, who said the "snide" comments were " unbecoming of an elected representative".
Another supporter was found in the form of retired RTÉ broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille, who said: "Gratuitous insult to the staff and readers of a good newspaper, this unpleasant tweet is by a DUP MLA.Straight out of the Donald Trump handbook."
