Gildernew to defend seat

Editorial Department • Published 21 Jan 2010 09:00 0 Comments

Fermanagh-south Tyrone Westminster MP will defend the seat in this year's General Election, it has been confirmed.

Michelle Gildernew was unanimously re-selected as the Sinn Féin Westminster Candidate for Fermanagh South Tyrone at a packed party convention in Dungannon last week.

Speaking after her nomination and selection Michelle Gildernew said that she was honoured to have been re-selected for Sinn Féin in Fermanagh South Tyrone and paid tribute to the dedication and hard work of the party organisation throughout the constituency.

Ms Gildernew, who has become prominent at leadership level in Sinn Fein, is also Agriculture Minister in the Stormont power-sharing Executive.

She becomes the third candidate to be selected in Fermanagh-south Tyrone.

The Ulster Unionists nominated Assembly member Tom Elliott some months ago, and before Christmas the DUP selected Arlene Foster.

Since then, Mrs. Foster has become Acting First Minister along with being Minister of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

It seemed likely that both Unionists would contest the seat, but at the week-end Ulster Unionists and DUP members held discussions at a meeting organised by the Conservative Party in Britain.

Michelle Gildernew is likely to face a challenge from the SDLP, who have yet to formally select a candidate. However, it will probably be Assembly member, Tommy Gallagher.

Ms Gildernew said: "It is a great honour and privilege for me to once again be selected by the party in Fermanagh South Tyrone to stand as the Sinn Féin candidate to represent the people of this constituency, and I thank the party for entrusting that task to me.

"The next election will be an important one, one in which I will continue to campaign on all important issues that affect people's daily lives both within this constituency and further afield.

"We will continue the programme of building political strength throughout this island as part of a strategy to bring about Irish re-unification and deliver true equality for all the citizens on the Island," she added.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 21 Jan 10

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