28/02/2011

DUP Leader Reveals MLA Candidates

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has announced its team of 44 candidates for the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election.

DUP Leader Peter Robinson (pictured) said that the DUP would be taking a positive message to the people of Northern Ireland.

"The DUP is offering a very strong slate of candidates throughout Northern Ireland in this crucial Assembly election.

"I am particularly pleased that we have a strong mix of experienced public representatives and new candidates to offer the electorate.

"The emergence of new candidates is reflective of the way in which the DUP is expanding to bring new people in to front-line representation. They all have very strong roots in their communities and a capacity to really influence things for the better," he said, noting that, on 5th May, voters will have a choice to make.

"We can move forward and build on the progress of recent years or we can be dragged backwards to instability and conflict.

"We want to build on progress so far and ensure that Unionism retains its leadership role in the Executive.

"Every vote will be vital and we'll be working hard to engage people who have never voted before or who feel elections don't matter," he said, underlining that the election will be focused on the economy and which party can provide policies to steer NI through the massive cuts being handed down to the Executive by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Government.

"Despite the £4bn cuts to our budget, we are a low tax party and will be offering policies to keep household bills low whilst creating the conditions to help business flourish," the Stormont First Minister continued.

"Our campaign will be positive and we will be offering people the chance to vote to keep Northern Ireland moving forward," said the DUP Leader.

Included in the 44 candidates are Finance Minister Sammy Wilson in East Antrim, Peter Robinson in East Belfast and Arlene Foster in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Stormont Junior Minister Robin Newton and Sammy Douglas - who is originally from the loyalist area of Sandy Row and now part of the East Belfast Partnership - make up the remainer of the East Belfast contenders.

(BMcC/GK)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 November 2024
Alliance Warns Of Post Office Closure Impact On Vulnerable
Alliance Communities spokespeople Sian Mulholland MLA and Kellie Armstrong MLA have warned that the closure of local Crown Post Office branches could disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society.
28 May 2021
UUP Door Is 'Open' To Disaffected DUP Members
New Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said the door of his party was 'open' to any disaffected DUP councillors and members who may want to join.
28 November 2003
Final results in for 2003 NI Assembly election
UPDATE: With all counts declared on Friday evening the clear winners are the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party who have claimed 10 more seats on the Assembly and Sinn Féin who have won 6 seats.
04 July 2024
Voters Urged To Support Candidates Prepared To Work For NI
Ulster Unionist Leader, Doug Beattie, has called on voters to support candidates prepared to represent Northern Ireland at Westminster.
26 November 2003
Voters in Northern Ireland go to the polls
Voters were going to the polls today to elect representatives for the Northern Ireland's Legislative Assembly. Over one million people are entitled to vote in the election being held today, which has 256 candidates vying for the 108 MLA (Members of the Legislative Assembly) seats spead across the 18 constituencies.