Write a commentNewry & Armagh Assemblyman Mickey Brady at a recent Sinn Féin Party Constituency Convention held in Newry Golf Club was selected to contest the constituency in next years Westminister election The seat has been held by Sinn Féin since the election of Conor Murphy in 2005.
The convention also endorsed the selections of Megan Fearon, Cathal Boylan and Conor Murphy to contest the Assembly elections due to take place in 2016.
Commenting after his selection as Westminster Candidate Mickey Brady stated that it was vital his Party stood firm against Tory plans to impose welfare cuts on the North.
He said "It’s a great honour and a privilege to be selected to contest the Newry & Armagh Westminster seat on behalf of Sinn Féin.It’s also a great privilege to be a member of the most vibrant and largest party on this island and standing this evening with the hardest party workers here in Newry & Armagh. Tonight we are embarking on another election campaign. Sinn Féin are taking the lead in challenging the Tory welfare cuts, we are the party who will block the welfare cuts, we are the party who will protect working families, the working poor, we will protect the unemployed and those with disabilities".
Mickey also said that if elected by the people of Newry & Armagh he would continue to champion the interests of all of the people of the area in particular the most vulnerable in the pursuit of job creation, youth opportunities, tourism development, Daisy Hill Hospital services and sustainability and the development of the infrastructure in both Armagh and Newry Cities
“We have a wealth of talent, elected and non-elected, and what is required is that we harness all of those skills and political influence to achieve economic and social prosperity for this constituency. Unity of purpose and the building of a better life and opportunity for all should be the goals of all of us who live here" said the Sinn Féin elected representative and he concluded by stating
"Here in Newry & Armagh Republicans do not take the electorate for granted. However make no mistake; we can stand before the electorate in this constituency with confidence because we have delivered on past promises. Retaining the seat simply isn’t enough. In order to move matters forward we have to win in resounding fashion. We have to do what it takes to win every possible vote and that work must start immediately"
The Westminster Election will take place in May 2015
Megan Fearon MLA who along with her colleagues Cathal Boylan MLA and Conor Murphy MP was selected to contest the Assembly Elections in 2016 said that she was delighted to be part of a vibrant, experienced and committed Sinn Féin team of elected representatives in the Newry & Armagh Constituency. "Our local Councillors and activists are recognised as hard working people who care about the communities they belong to. I am proud to currently be part of that Sinn Féin team. We believe that many of our economic, infrastructural, tourism and social economy deficits – particularly in this area - emanate from the political divisions of the past. And while the Peace Process hasn’t totally eradicated discrimination against areas like South Armagh we have to be vigilant as we work to deliver a better future for all" said the MLA.
Her Newry & Armagh MLA colleague Cathal Boylan who will also contest the Assembly 2016 elections told the large attendance at the recent convention. "Our councillors, MLAs, the MP’s office and our activists have worked to change the landscape of Newry & Armagh over many years and we like no one else will continue to do so as there is a lot more to do"
Cathal added "It is up to all of us between now and Election Day to make sure that not a single voter is left in any doubt as to what we have done in this constituency on their behalf. We will challenge political opponents who might be critical of aspects of our work to explain how they would have done things differently. Nobody gets off the hook. We are after every vote".
Current Newry & Armagh MP Conor Murphy who will now contest the Assembly 2016 elections give all present at the Sinn Féin Convention and update on the ongoing Talks at Stormont where he is a key member of his Party's Talks Team.
The Sinn Féin MP said that his party had consistently called on both governments to live up to their role as co-equal guarantors of these agreements.
“Given the undermining of the institutions, the refusal to engage in talks and the breaches of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and other agreements by sections of political unionism and the British government, Sinn Féin has consistently called on both governments to live up to their role as co-equal guarantors of these agreements. We remain concerned that the British Government has assumed an explicitly partisan and pro-unionist party stance.Sinn Féin have entered these Talks to resolve issues and will, as always, abide by any agreements made. Others must commit to do the same."
Concluding he said that Sinn Féin would continue to demand a border poll. "Our party will continue to demand a border poll to put the case for Irish unity and independence to the electorate. It’s a debate we can win and it’s clear that our enemies fear us putting our case about the benefits of Irish unity to the people.Stability and equality are today the foremost threats to Britain’s claim to this part of Ireland. Stability, because it will remove all of the distractions that prevent people from focussing on the issues that matter. Equality, because it attacks the discriminatory culture that held this state together".
