Six seek to succeed Adams as MP

Six candidates are contesting the June 9 Belfast West Commons by-election to choose a successor to Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams.

The list includes five who also stood in the constituency in this month’s Northern Ireland Assembly election.

Seeking to defend Mr Adams’ huge majority for Sinn Féin is Paul Maskey and Alex Attwood is standing for the SDLP.

Both were elected in the assembly poll.

Brian Kingston is standing again for Democratic Unionists, Bill Manwaring for Ulster Unionists and Gerry Carroll for the People Before Profit Alliance.

The one newcomer since the May 5 election is the Alliance Party’s Aaron McIntyre.

The full list:

Alex Attwood (SDLP)

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance)

Brian Kingston (DUP)

Bill Manwaring (UUP)

Paul Maskey (SF)

Aaron McIntyre (Alliance)

General Election 2010: SF maj 17,579 (54.71%) – Turnout 32,133 (53.99%) Adams (SF) 22,840 (71.08%); Attwood (SDLP) 5,261 (16.37%); Humphrey (DUP) 2,436 (7.58%); Manwaring (UCUNF) 1,000 (3.11%); Hendron (Alliance) 596 (1.85%)