NI could return two nationalist MEPs - de Brun

There is an outside chance that Northern Ireland could return two non unionist MEPs, Sinn Féin claimed tonight.

The party’s European Election candidate Bairbre de Brun said the party believed she had a strong chance of capturing one of Northern Ireland’s three seats and the Democratic Unionist candidate Jim Allister would take his party’s seat.

However with the battle for the final seat expected to between sitting Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson and the SDLP Lord Mayor of Belfast Martin Morgan, Ms de Brun said her party was willing to enter into talks about a voting pact to secure another non-unionist seat.

At the formal launch of her party’s campaign in Northern Ireland at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, the former Stormont Health Minister said: “On the present indications we would say that Jim Allister looks set to take a seat.

“Without taking voters for granted, we think we are in a strong position to take a seat.

“There is an outside chance of the third seat going to a non unionist. Given the shredding of the electoral register and other factors that looks like it is an outside chance.

“We’re in this election going to maximise the campaign to get a Sinn Féin team, an all-Ireland team into Europe. We have always stated in the past that we are open to an electoral pact.

“Our focus today has to be to ask people to vote for Sinn Féin but if people want to transfer after that to the SDLP or other parties, then they can do so.”

Northern Ireland has traditionally returned two unionist MEPs and one nationalist in every European Election since the first contest in 1979.

With the retirement of Democratic Unionist leader the Ian Paisley and the former SDLP leader John Hume from the European Parliament, the contest is less predictable.

Former farmers’ leader John Gilliland is running as an independent and could have a key role in determining where the final seat goes.

Turnout on June 10 could also play a part.

The Green Party is fielding Lindsay Whitcroft and journalist Eamonn McCann is contesting the election for the Socialist Environmental Alliance.