West Tyrone Ulster Unionist Association in delighted with the re-election of Jim Nicholson.  It is interesting to note that the press - which could at times be referred to as the DUP controlled press - seemed to have Jim condemned to the political wilderness suggesting that he would limp in 4th behind the SDLP.  The fact that the political pundits got it wrong - and badly wrong is a credit to the work of the Ulster Unionist Party and it is also apparent that the new force created by our link with the Conservative Party did not have the negative impact that was also predicted by the soothsayers of doom.  West Tyrone Secretary and Omagh Town Councillor Ross Hussey has commented ’We clearly could see during our canvassing that there was disillusionment amongst the Unionist people, apathy was apparent as many said they would not vote, people believed that the DUP lied to them during the last election and despite what DUP politicians are are saying now it is clear thatt the people have spoken and have reacted to what they see as deceit.  The expenses issue and the failure of the DUP to act on the education debacle have also causedthe backlash.  Jim Allister was and is a major factor - he did exceptionally well in the polls again despite the political pundits predicting his demise.  For the DUP to claim that unionism divided is weakend is hypocritical and insulting - Arlene Foster clearly is a ’splitter’ she walked away from the Ulster Unionist Party and into Government with Sinn Fein.  Diane Doods deserved to crawl in third and perhaps humility may be the best lesson that the DUP can and will learn from this exercise.