So easy for DUP’s Shannon

So easy for DUP’s Shannon

13 May 2015

AFTER just three hours sleep last Friday, the DUP’s Jim Shannon was back at his constituency office desk.

While other politicians, their supporters and electoral staff who had been at the overnight Westminster election count in Bangor were tucked up in bed, Jim Shannon was back doing what he loves best.

He had generously given his office staff the day off last Friday and while he was hoping to catch up on some work, he ended up dealing with a raft of constituency issues, but didn’t mind one bit.

Later that afternoon, Mr Shannon attended a DUP officers meeting and on Saturday there was no lie in for the Strangford MP as it was off to Portavogie to host one of his constituency surgeries.

Hard work is something Jim Shannon thrives on and he is a firm believer that hard work brings it rewards, thanking the 15,000 people who voted for him.

His Westminster re-election came just days before DUP Strangford MLAs Simon Hamilton and Jonathan Bell were appointed the Ministers of Health and Enterprise, Trade and Investment respectively and another MLA from the constituency, Michelle McIlveen, was appointed a junior minister to work alongside First Minister Peter Robinson.

Mr Shannon said the success of his party is down to hard work and admits he feels “privileged” to be able to serve the people, something has been doing for over three decades, firstly as a councillor, then an MLA and now as the Honourable Member for Strangford.

“It’s good to be busy,” he said, taking time out from another bust schedule on Monday to speak with the Down Recorder. “Every day is busy and I would not have it any other way. Hard work is something I love and I believe my Westminster vote is testament to the work I have been doing for the people of Strangford for 30 years.”

Mr. Shannon, who has an office in Ballynahinch which is now part of a huge constituency stretching from the market town to Portaferry and includes Saintfield, Killyleagh, Comber and Newtownards, admitted he is “humbled” by the support he continues to receive from local people.

He continued: “It is a real privilege to be elected as a member of parliament again and to increase the number of votes I received in 2010. Increasing my majority was also way beyond my expectations. Being an MP and serving the people is all about hard work and I am fortunate to have excellent staff.

“I am delighted to have a really good team around me and am grateful for their continued support. I set out to knock every door along each lane way, road and street we canvassed and I believe we did this, particularly in the urban areas. I had several canvassing teams working for me and am grateful to them all.”

Mr Shannon also revealed that pounding the highways and byways across the constituency was also good for his health and waistline, revealing he has lost almost a stone in weight.

“I am now as fit as a fiddle,” he joked, admitting that the impact of the long canvass is beginning to creep up on him and he feels tired. But the MP has no plans of taking things easy.

“Our election motto was ‘standing up for Strangford’ and I believe that is something I and the DUP have consistently done over many years,” he continued, explaining he felt humbled by many people who had approached him on polling day to say they were voting for him in return for the various help he had provided to them and their families.

Mr Shannon said he is in a “very privileged position” asking how many other people get the opportunity to do a job they love to do? He said he is delighted to be in a position to help others and will continue to work for everyone in the constituency alongside his DUP colleagues.

“I believe we have a team at every political level in Strangford which is unsurpassed and one that will continue to serve the people,” said the MP.

Looking forward to his return to Westminster, Mr Shannon said he will continue to work alongside his South Down colleague Margaret Ritchie in the drive to cut the VAT rate on tourism in Northern Ireland. He also hopes the DUP will retain him as the party’s health spokesman at Westminster.

“Working hard for the agriculture and fishing industries is high on his agenda as is the further promotion of the Provinces’s agri-food sector. Addressing EU bureaucracy which has hampered the fishing industry is also a critical issue that needs to be addressed,” he continued. “I want to work with others to be the voice for our fishermen in Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie.

“One of the other issues I want to tackle is the availability of so-called legal highs which will require legislative change. I believe this is a growing problem and one we need to address. People will be well aware that a young man in Newtownards recently lost his life after taking a legal high.”

Mr Shannon said the DUP is keen to see two per cent of the UK’s gross domestic product spent on defence and wants to continue being a spokesperson for the “persecuted church” across the world. He said it’s an issue which resonates with people from all Christian churches.

He added: “The work never stops and and I am looking forward to another busy five years delivering for the people of Strangford.”