Alliance to contest European elections

Northern Ireland’s cross community Alliance Party tonight signalled it would contest European Parliament elections in June.

Leader David Ford confirmed his party’s plans following the decision of Democratic Unionists leader Ian Paisley and former nationalist SDLP leader John Hume to stand down from the European Parliament this summer.

It is understood Alliance Party president Colm Kavanagh has already indicated his willingness to stand for the party in the election.

However, an election meeting is unlikely to take place until early May.

Mr Ford said: “With the retirement of the two MEPs who represented Northern Ireland since the first direct election in 1979, I believe that the election in June is now completely open.

“Both Ian Paisley and John Hume have significant personal support which will not necessarily transfer to their party colleagues.

“There is clearly a major threat to the seats held by the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP as a result of recent developments.”

At November’s Assembly election the Alliance Party managed to hang on to its six Stormont seats despite a 3% drop in its vote.

The Democratic Unionists merged as Northern Ireland’s largest party, taking a greater share of the popular vote and the most Assembly seats.

Sinn Féin extended its lead in the nationalist community over Mark Durkan’s SDLP.

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson is the only sitting member of the European Parliament in Northern Ireland to defend a seat.

Northern Ireland elects three MEPs to Strasbourg and Brussels.

Sinn Féin has selected former Stormont Health Minister Bairbre de Brun as its candidate and is hopeful of winning European Parliament seats in Northern Ireland and in Dublin.

The DUP has yet to announce who will contest the election in place of its leader Ian Paisley but former Stormont Social Development Minister Maurice Morrow has sought party nomination.

The SDLP has also yet to determine who will be its candidate although Belfast Lord Mayor Martin Morgan and South Belfast Assembly member Dr Alasdair McDonnell are both being tipped as possible candidates.