Agreed candidate talks ongoing after policing deal

Brian Donaldson • Published 11 Feb 2010 10:29 0 Comments

See also:

Unionists close to deal on single candidate

There are "ongoing discussions" between the relevant parties over the possibility of having an agreed Unionist candidate in place in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in time for the forthcoming Westminster election, it was stated this week.

The Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, who has already been selected as his Party's candidate, said he would not comment further on the situation but asked if there was a quick decision by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown to announce a date earlier than the proposed May 6 election date, he said parties would be ready for it.

The DUP candidate, Arlene Foster, said she hoped there would be discussions in a positive way over this as she has been hearing calls from the electorate that they want a single candidate.

"There is a hunger for a unity candidate," she stated. However on clarification she said she would not be prescriptive on the type of candidate.

It is unclear at this stage whether the two main unionist parties will form an agreement over selecting a single candidate in both Fermanagh and South Tyrone and South Belfast which are currently held by Sinn Fein and SDLP respectively or whether they would push for a unity candidate, that is someone not connected to either party which would have the support also of Jim Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice.

Meanwhile the current MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew said she is ready for the contest.

"I have retained this seat for nine years and I intend to retain it this time again. I think both Unionist and Republican constituents of Fermanagh/South Tyrone recognise the work I've done as an MP and the work I have carried out as Agriculture Minister. It will be a hotly fought contest like it always is and my team is working hard to ensure that it will be another victory for Sinn Fein," she said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein Junior Minister Gerry Kelly told an Enniskillen audience at the weekend that last Friday's result was "the right one for all the people in the north."

Addressing over 200 republicans at the Clinton Centre, Mr Kelly described the negotiations as "frank but productive" and that all agreements and undertakings should be honoured.

"We are capable of respecting each other, of treating one another as equals and proceeding on the basis of partnership, respect, fairness and equality. Sinn Fein is determined to continue to work in good faith with our unionist colleagues. We want to work in harmony with Peter Robinson for the good of the entire community."

He continued, "We have agreed that the transfer of policing and justice powers to our power sharing government will happen on April 12."

Arlene Foster, whose role as Acting First Minister finished late Wednesday evening after three weeks during which time she said she was heartened by cross community support from people in Fermanagh, stressed that the agreement over Policing and Justice was good for unionists despite some misleading remarks from certain quarters. She quoted several aspects such as new minimum tariffs for sentencing offenders which allows Northern Ireland to deal with their own specific needs.

"It is good for everyone in the community. We secured £800 million extra for policing and £20 million is going to the part-time reserve officers," she said.

However the UUP's Tom Elliott said his party were annoyed at the lack of information during the weeks of negotiations which led to the Agreement and said they did not know what was involved until they were given the Agreement paper on Friday morning. And therefore they were not given "ownership" of it.

"I would call it an 'arrangement' rather than an agreement. There are working groups set up and more talks and more negotiations. He said they had not yet decided whether to nominate a member for the Justice Ministry and he said there was a difference in interpretation between the parties over how that Minister should be appointed.

Mrs. Foster is now continuing to concentrate on her economic portfolio. She will be attending an investment conference hosted by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown on February 22 and looking forward to a possible US investment conference in Belfast in May.

She said she was in no doubt about the the potential that Northern Ireland and indeed Fermanagh had to offer to investors from outside the Province.

Referring to a visit by Sir Peter Rigby to Fermanagh on Friday she said people like him are usually "blown away" by the place once they visit here. In fact US economic envoy, Declan Kelly was in Fermanagh a few weeks ago.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Feb 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.