The Northern Ireland political parties are gearing up for a summer election after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced voters will go to the polls on July 4th. Some party leaders said they were surprised by the announcement, while others said they had been waiting patiently. The Financial Secretary’s announcement has prompted party leaders to set out their stalls ahead of the election.
Sinn Féin has confirmed that sitting MP Michelle Gildernew will not be standing in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency in the election as she wants “to represent the people of Midlands-North-West in the European Parliament”. The party’s North Belfast MP, John Finucane, said they are “certainly looking forward to July fourth”. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has promised to run a “positive” campaign. Interim leader Gavin Robinson suggested the party will not be engaging in “provocative” tactics.
Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said it was a case of “bring it on” with regard to the election. Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said his party was ready for the election. Meanwhile, Reform UK will not be standing candidates in Northern Ireland, its deputy leader Ben Habib has said. The party announced a partnership with Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) in March, which it said would involve “agreed candidates” for constituencies in Northern Ireland.
Eighteen seats are up for grabs in Northern Ireland. The DUP won the most seats, eight in the last general election but now has seven after former party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was suspended from the party. Sinn Féin is currently the largest party at Stormont and at local government level. They will want to replicate that in the Westminster poll.
Northern Ireland’s political parties are facing many questions with regard to the election. These include who will the DUP run in place of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in Lagan Valley? Will the Alliance leader Naomi Long stand in East Belfast? And, if she doesn’t, will that mean the prospects are better for Gavin Robinson just weeks into his time as the DUP’s interim leader? All of which means Sinn Féin will fancy their chances of becoming the biggest party for the first time in a Westminster election
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