CONSTITUENCY PROFILE: MID ULSTER; ELECTION '07: 13 DAYS TO GO.THIS is a key battle ground for Sinn Fein. Republicans currently hold three of the constituency's six seats, while the remaining three seats are divided between the SDLP's Patsy McGlone, UUP's Billy Armstrong and DUP DUP (in Northern Ireland) Democratic Unionist Party stalwart the Rev William McCrea. Although Sinn Fein will hope to build on the 46 per cent of the vote they captured in 2003, they face stiff competition from anti-policing republicans. Former IRA hunger striker Brendan McLaughlin, who is standing for Republican Sinn Fein, could damage Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Francie Molloy. Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill replaces former Assembly woman Geraldine Dougan, who stepped down last month. An era will come to an end when the Rev Robert William Ian McCrea stands aside. But his family's legacy will continue with his son Robert William Ian who is expected to slip comfortably into his father's seat. In 2003 the SDLP's Patsy McGlone out-flanked party running mate and sitting MLA MLA abbr. Modern Language Association MLA n abbr (BRIT POL) (= Member of the Legislative Assembly) → miembro de la asamblea legislativa MLA (Brit Denis Haughey to take his seat. Vote slippage from Sinn Fein, combined with a reputation for hard work, should ensure the former SDLP SDLP (in Northern Ireland) Social Democratic and Labour Party SDLP (Brit) n abbr (Pol) (= Social Democratic and Labour Party) → sozialdemokratische Partei in Nordirland general secretary is returned. Although the UUP vote has been on the slide, sitting MLA Billy Armstrong should fend off a strong challenge from the DUP. Outside hopes rest with veteran independent socialist campaigner Harry Hutchinson who has set out an anti-water charges and rates stall. MIRROR PREDICTION: Sinn Fein should hold its three seats, with the DUP, SDLP and UUP taking one each. POTENTIAL SHOCK: Ex-IRA hunger striker Brendan McLaughlin could take a seat off Sinn Fein. CANDIDATES: Billy Armstrong (UUP); Elizabeth Forde (DUP); Harry Hutchinson (Independent); Kathleen Lagan Lagan (lăg`ən), river, c.40 mi (60 km) long, rising in Slieve Croob, SE Northern Ireland. It flows NW, then NE past Lisburn to Belfast Lough at Belfast. (SDLP); Margaret Marshall (Alliance); Robert McCrea (DUP); Patsy McGlone (SDLP); Martin McGuinness (SF); Brendan McLaughlin (Ind); Walter Millar (UKUP UKUP United Kingdom Unionist Party ); Francis Molloy (SF); Michelle O'Neill (SF). Mid Ulster 2003 Assembly election: William McCrea (DUP) 8,211 Martin McGuinness (SF) 8,128 Geraldine Dougan (SF) 5,827 Francie Molloy (SF) 5,255 Billy Armstrong (UUP) 4,324 Patsy McGlone (SDLP) 4,295 |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion