Sinn Fein MLA to step down from Assembly

Sinn Fein MLA to step down from Assembly

22 February 2012 - by DAVID TELFORD

SINN Fein’s South Down Assemblyman Willie Clarke is quitting Stormont.

The Newcastle politician — first elected to the Assembly in 2003 — has confirmed he is leaving to concentrate on his role as a local councillor.

Sinn Fein is to host a selection convention early next month to appoint Mr. Clarke’s successor, with the Recorder understanding his replacement is unlikely to be any of the party’s sitting Down councillors.

Speculation is linking a Sinn Fein party official from the Ballynahinch area who isn’t currently involved in active politics as Mr. Clarke’s successor at Stormont.

Mr. Clarke is expected to retain his Assembly seat until MLAs break for the Easter holidays in early April. Explaining his decision to leave, the Newcastle politician said his party has a policy of eradicating double jobbing in terms of public representation.

“In view of this policy, I have opted to give up my Assembly seat in order to concentrate on my role with Down Council,” he said.

“This was a very difficult decision to make and in conjunction with my family I have decided that continuing my work through the local council is the best option for myself.”

Mr. Clarke said it was local issues which got him involved in politics in the first place and he wants to get back to working at a grassroots level for people in the Newcastle area and indeed right across the district.

He said when Down Council merges with its neighbour in Newry and Mourne in 2015, local politicians will assume full-time roles and this is something he’s looking forward to. But he recognises that before that there is still a lot of work to do.

The MLA continued: “There is a great challenge in Down Council over the next few years, including the task of shaping the out workings of the review of public administration which brought about the council merger. I want to be part of that challenge.”

Mr. Clarke said he will utilise his Assembly experience to help Sinn Féin be at the forefront of future changes.

He added: “I want to dedicate more time to community initiatives which will require more on the ground involvement. It has been an honour to represent the people of South Down at the Assembly and I want to thank everyone who assisted me during his time as an MLA.

“I would also like to thank my Sinn Féin colleagues for their support throughout my term and allowing me the option to choose which arena in which I would continue my political representation.”

Mr. Raymond McCartney, Sinn Féin Assembly’s group leader, said he was sorry Mr. Clarke has decided to leave Stormont and thanked him for his “considerable contribution to the Sinn Féin Assembly project.”

He added: “Willie Clarke has made a huge impression in the Assembly and has the respect of not only his Sinn Féin colleagues, but also his political opponents and the staff in Stormont for his courteous manner and diligence in representing his constituency.

“On behalf of the Sinn Féin Assembly team, I wish Willie well.”