Independent Alliance unveils county councillors for election

The newly-formed Independent Alliance which expects to have 20 candidates in place for the general election yesterday unveiled new hopefuls who have joined its ranks.

The putative alliance leader Shane Ross said there would be no manifesto but only principles agreed ahead of an election, and that members would have no whip enforced in Dáil votes.

Six sitting councillors and a journalist announced yesterday they would run under the alliance banner. The movement hopes to capitalise on rising support for Independents, with polls showing more than one in five voters prepared to support such candidates.