28/02/2011

DUP Leader Reveals MLA Candidates

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

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