As you were for SDLP as MLAs are selected

As you were for SDLP as MLAs are selected

25 January 2017

THE SDLP has confirmed that sitting South Down MLAs Colin McGrath and Sinead Bradley will be the party’s standard bearers at the forthcoming Assembly election.

The duo’s nomination was confirmed at a party selection meeting in Newcastle last weekend and the candidates say they are looking forward to what promises to be a robust election campaign before voters go to the polls on March 2.

The SDLP has traditionally chosen three candidates to contest the Assembly election in South Down but has opted to field just two as voters will be electing just five MLAs per constituency, rather than six which was previously the case.

The party’s South Down MP, Margaret Ritchie, says she is delighted with Mr McGrath and Ms Bradley’s nomination.

After the weekend selection meeting held at the Newcastle Centre, Miss Ritchie said the party’s South Down flag bearers have worked very hard since they secured seats at Stormont for the first time last May.

She continued: “Working alongside me, Colin and Sinead have proven to be exceptional MLAs with an enormous work ethic and central belief in challenging government departments to achieve the best possible deal for all the people of South Down. The needs of the people come first as far as they are concerned.”

The MP said the “requirement to deliver” is particularly important for the South Down candidates, with hard work, service and delivery central to their core political beliefs.

“In this regard, it is important that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Assembly based on partnership, power-sharing, respect for political difference and parallel consent, are enabled to deliver for the people on a range of issues which impact on all our lives on a daily basis,” said Miss Ritchie.

The MP added: “These political institutions must be able and allowed to tackle the rising waiting lists for medical assessments and surgical procedures; the need for continuous budgets for schools to enable teachers to do their job, provide for the education of all our children and the imperative to continue to grow our economy, sustain existing jobs, create new jobs and regenerate our towns and rural areas against the challenges presented by Brexit.”