The West Tyrone by-election may have been prompted by a controversial tweet which provoked outrage f
The West Tyrone by-election may have been prompted by a controversial tweet which provoked outrage f:
Thanks for watching, subscribe for more videos.
The West Tyrone by-election may have been prompted by a controversial tweet which provoked outrage from Troubles victims, but the parties’ stances on abortion could have more of an effect on the result, according to candidates. Voters are being asked to return to the polls less than a year since the last parliamentary election, following Barry McElduff’s resignation in the wake of a video showing him balancing a Kingsmill-branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre. The outrage back in January at the social media post, which Mr McElduff denied was an intended reference to the sectarian murders of 10 protestant workmen by republican paramilitaries near the south Armagh village of Kingsmill exactly 42 years earlier, sparked talk of an agreed victims’ candidate running to replace him. That failed to materialise and the four other main parties put forward their candidates in a bid to unseat Sinn Fein in the sprawling, largely rural border constituency they have held for 17 years. The decision of the party to select a political newbie – albeit an activist and the daughter of a former councillor – is most likely a signal they believe they will keep the seat in the mainly nationalist area without any major difficulty. Orfhlaith Begley is confident skills from her current job in law would help her as an MP. The 26-year-old said: “I think the job I have as a solicitor will stand me in good stead to represent people. I’m an advocate for people in the court and in tribunals so hopefully I can be an advocate for constituents as well.” Retaining the party’s 50% share of the vote in 2017 could be seen as a daunting prospect for someone who is running for office for the first time, but Ms Begley said she has faith in the loyalty of the party’s supporters. “I hope the people of West Tyrone will come out again and endorse Sinn Fein’s vision of a new Ireland,” she said. She reiterated the sentiment when questioned about her party’s stance on abortion and the longstanding policy of not taking their seats in Westminster, saying she is “hopeful” voters will stick with them come Thursday. Sinn Fein is campaigning for a yes vote in next month’s referendum in the Republic, supporting the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, which gives equal right to life to the mother and the unborn, to replace it with wording that would allow politicians to set Ireland’s abortion laws in the future. The party currently supports the right of a woman to have an abortion in circumstances of rape, fatal foetal abnormality and when there is a risk to maternal health. On the prospect of going straight in at Westminster level, Ms Begley said: “I’m up for it, I’m excited about it and hopefully I can provide effective representation, a strong voice in a time of political uncertainty for the people of West Tyrone.” But the DUP’s Thomas Buchanan, who in 2017 managed just over half the number of vot
Thanks for watching, subscribe for more videos.
The West Tyrone by-election may have been prompted by a controversial tweet which provoked outrage from Troubles victims, but the parties’ stances on abortion could have more of an effect on the result, according to candidates. Voters are being asked to return to the polls less than a year since the last parliamentary election, following Barry McElduff’s resignation in the wake of a video showing him balancing a Kingsmill-branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre. The outrage back in January at the social media post, which Mr McElduff denied was an intended reference to the sectarian murders of 10 protestant workmen by republican paramilitaries near the south Armagh village of Kingsmill exactly 42 years earlier, sparked talk of an agreed victims’ candidate running to replace him. That failed to materialise and the four other main parties put forward their candidates in a bid to unseat Sinn Fein in the sprawling, largely rural border constituency they have held for 17 years. The decision of the party to select a political newbie – albeit an activist and the daughter of a former councillor – is most likely a signal they believe they will keep the seat in the mainly nationalist area without any major difficulty. Orfhlaith Begley is confident skills from her current job in law would help her as an MP. The 26-year-old said: “I think the job I have as a solicitor will stand me in good stead to represent people. I’m an advocate for people in the court and in tribunals so hopefully I can be an advocate for constituents as well.” Retaining the party’s 50% share of the vote in 2017 could be seen as a daunting prospect for someone who is running for office for the first time, but Ms Begley said she has faith in the loyalty of the party’s supporters. “I hope the people of West Tyrone will come out again and endorse Sinn Fein’s vision of a new Ireland,” she said. She reiterated the sentiment when questioned about her party’s stance on abortion and the longstanding policy of not taking their seats in Westminster, saying she is “hopeful” voters will stick with them come Thursday. Sinn Fein is campaigning for a yes vote in next month’s referendum in the Republic, supporting the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, which gives equal right to life to the mother and the unborn, to replace it with wording that would allow politicians to set Ireland’s abortion laws in the future. The party currently supports the right of a woman to have an abortion in circumstances of rape, fatal foetal abnormality and when there is a risk to maternal health. On the prospect of going straight in at Westminster level, Ms Begley said: “I’m up for it, I’m excited about it and hopefully I can provide effective representation, a strong voice in a time of political uncertainty for the people of West Tyrone.” But the DUP’s Thomas Buchanan, who in 2017 managed just over half the number of vot
Comments
Post a Comment