Six run in West Belfast by-election

Published Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Six candidates will contest the former West Belfast seat of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in a Westminster by-election on 9 June.

Mr Adams stood down from the position last year to run for election to the Irish Republic's Dáil, where he was elected TD in the Louth constituency.

The list of candidates vying to become his successor includes five who also stood in the Assembly poll for west Belfast earlier this month.

Paul Maskey will run for Sinn Féin, aiming to continue the party's hold of the predominately nationalist area.

Also on the ballot paper are Alex Attwood of the SDLP, the DUP's Brian Kingston, the UUP's Bill Manwaring and Gerry Carroll of the People Before Profit Alliance.

All are familiar names from the Stormont election on 5 May, joined by one newcomer - Aaron McIntyre of the Alliance party.

West Belfast was previously the bastion of Mr Adams, who held the seat from 1983 to 1992, and then continuously since 1997.

^{{Correction: Mr Adams was first elected as West Belfast MP in 1983 - not 1982 as previously stated. He lost the seat to the SDLP in 1992.}}

Comments

6 Comments

Joe Smith in belfast wrote (753 days ago):

Chris, an elected MP represents everyone in that constituency. If Sinn Fein stand with the intention of abstaining it means they planned beforehand to deny those who wish to represented their Human Rights. Everyone has the same human right to representation and it is not the case that the majority can vote away the rights of the minority. This is an example of Sinn Fein not moving forward.

Sunil Prasnnan in London wrote (754 days ago):

Didn't Gerry Adams first win West Belfast in 1983 and lose in 1992? (not '82 and '91 as stated in the article?)

Chris in abroad wrote (755 days ago):

@Joe. So increasing their seat share both in NI and in the Republic passes as SF being left behind? Also, it's one thing for an individual to be elected to office, and later to decide not to take his seat in Westminster. That would be a case of not representing those that elected you. It's quite another to be elected by people that don't expect him to take his seat in the first place.

RJ in Kilrea wrote (755 days ago):

Been represented in Westminster is not a Human Right a Human Right is the Right to life, liberty, free speech, peaceful assembly in no way is been represented in Westminster a Human Right. Sinn Fein get elected on the Principal that they will not go to Westminster so they are following there promise to the Electorate who's vote iS Paramount they are the boss, btw look at the Human Rights Act you will see in no way is Going to Or not as the Case Maybe Westminster IS not a Human Right.

John in Co.Armagh wrote (755 days ago):

Once again Sinn Fein will retain the seat and in doing so neglect the electorate of all West Belfast by refusing to take there seat at Westminster, but of course they will take the money with the Queen's head upon it hypocrites to the end.

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