Republican News · Thursday 30 January 1997

It's McGuinness vs McCrea

Sinn Féin can take Mid-Ulster

The announcement by Sinn Féin that Martin McGuinness is to be the party's candidate in the Mid-Ulster constituency in the Westminster election is the first step in the campaign to regain the seat for nationalists.

Only Sinn Féin, the largest nationalist party in Mid-Ulster, can now redress the injustice where, in the absence of proportional representation and with unionisits backing a single candidate, a constituency with a nationalist majority is represented by the DUP's Willie McCrea. Not since Bernadette McAliskey in 1969-'74 has this seat been held by nationalists. Sinn Féin's Danny Morrison came within 78 votes of capturing it in 1983.

With the nomination of Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin has made known its determination to oust Willie McCrea. ``People in this constituency have been enthused by the selection of Martin McGuinness,'' says Francie Molloy, Sinn Féin councillor and Mid-Ulster poll-topper in last May's election, who stood aside to allow the party's chief negotiator take the nomination. He told An Phoblacht that there is a real expectation that a breakthrough can be made this time. ``It would be a mandate for dialogue and against exclusion. The hard work has already begun,'' he said.

Sinn Féin will be standing in constituencies across the Six Counties, presenting a major electoral challenge in both the imminent Westminster election and the May local government poll.

Related Article:

Sinn Féin fields strong team

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