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08/10/2001
Alliance elect Ford as new leader
Northern Ireland's moderate centre political party, Alliance, has elected a new leader who has pledged to win back support from both Protestants and Catholics.
David Ford beat deputy leader Eileen Bell by 86-45 votes for the leadership taken at a meeting of party delegates on Saturday October 6.
Mr Ford, 50, has held the position of Alliance chief whip since 1998 and is an assembly member for South Antrim. He is involved in a range of environmental and transport campaigns throughout the province and is the Alliance Party's spokesman on agriculture and rural development and on the environment.
Speaking at the weekend Mr Ford said he was certain that Alliance, which once had significant support across Northern Ireland's sectarian divide but has lost much of its backing over the past few years, could become influential again.
He added: “People have to realize if they want to build a non-sectarian society, they have to support a party that reflects those values, not parties that come from one side of the community or the other.”
Alliance once commanded up to 14 percent of the vote - enough to hold Cabinet posts in Northern Ireland's multiparty government - but in recent elections the party has seen its support slide below 5 percent. (AMcE)
David Ford beat deputy leader Eileen Bell by 86-45 votes for the leadership taken at a meeting of party delegates on Saturday October 6.
Mr Ford, 50, has held the position of Alliance chief whip since 1998 and is an assembly member for South Antrim. He is involved in a range of environmental and transport campaigns throughout the province and is the Alliance Party's spokesman on agriculture and rural development and on the environment.
Speaking at the weekend Mr Ford said he was certain that Alliance, which once had significant support across Northern Ireland's sectarian divide but has lost much of its backing over the past few years, could become influential again.
He added: “People have to realize if they want to build a non-sectarian society, they have to support a party that reflects those values, not parties that come from one side of the community or the other.”
Alliance once commanded up to 14 percent of the vote - enough to hold Cabinet posts in Northern Ireland's multiparty government - but in recent elections the party has seen its support slide below 5 percent. (AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
