It is now time to make our minds up who we vote for. Some of us will have already decided, others are still prevaricating.
There has been an enormous amount of political debate on TV, radio, in the papers, and on social media and I have to ask the question, are we suffering from information overload?
Many people seem stunned at the sheer volume of information. So, without adding to the election-eve avalanche from the candidates, I’ll just pick out a couple of salient points from what they have been saying on the doorsteps. And to be honestly fair, I’ll do it in alphabetical party order, a sort of snapshot of the candidates.
[caption id="attachment_56421" align="aligncenter" width="540"]
The South Down candidates: Martyn Todd (Alliance), Chris Hazzard (Sinn FeÂŽin), Margaret Ritchie (SDLP), Felicity Dobson (Conservative), Harold McKee (UUP), and Henry Reilly (UKIP). Jim Wells (DUP) is missing from the photo.[/caption]
So up first is Martyn Todd from Alliance from Saintfield. He is very experienced in working with small businesses and in local government as a director or Tourism and is clearly a capable professional gentleman espousing his parties policies and ideals. On the ‘national’ question, he simply says that Alliance will not contemplate a united Ireland unless it was with the will of the people. Given the reality of Northern ireland that is not likely ever to occur in the near future and therefore a reasonable position to take. It is pragmatic. No crystal balls here, just a vision of a shared society and future and a drive for a  positive economic prosperity. It is a party very much behind equality and social justice.
Felicity Dobson has been parachuted into South Down as a late entrant for the Conservatives in a race for the South Down seat. She is originally a Scot from near Fraserburgh and had a career in banking. Her main plank is that the Conservative party is the only party that can fully represent the people of Northern Ireland at national UK level.
The DUP’s Jim Wells, retiring Health Minister, has been an MLA for 21 years and is fighting for his share of the Unionist vote against three capable Unionist candidates. Kilkeel based, he is noted for his fairly strong views regarding LGBT issues and a momentary slip on these matters led to his exit as Health Minister (effective from 11 May) . He is very strong on planning procedures, and espouses the core values of the DUP, the main one being the state of the Union.
Margaret Ritchie, from Teconnaught near Downpatrick, is a former DSD Minister and SDLP leader, who served as South Down MP for the last parliament, came from the stable of Eddie McGrady MP and took over his mantel in 2007. She has a strong team around her, and has clearly defined policies. One of her key aims is to see the St Patrick’s tourism theme developed to its full potential. She has a reputation of being a workhorse. She is anti-nuclear power, and supports the SDLP’s gradualistic approach to achieving a united Ireland. She fundamentally believes that Northern Ireland needs a strong voice in Westminster, and adopts the SDLP’s position on LGBT rights that they are entitled to full recognition as everyone else.
Chris Hazzard MLA, a Drumaness resident, and the Sinn Féin newcomer who is making a reputation for himself, is studying for a doctorate at QUB and has worked closely with Education Minister John O’Dowd at the Assembly. He is adamant that Westminster is less relevant than Belfast and Dublin and focuses on a strong human rights and equality agenda, and is keen to see jobs and prosperity come to South Down. He is well respected in the Sinn Féin political heirarchy and has challenged the SDLP on its record in South Down.
Henry Reilly, UKIP candidate from Kilkeel, is a very able politician who thinks on his feet. A common denominator in his policies is the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. All ills emanate from this reality, so he is a keen exponent of withdrawal and installing effective borders. He welcomes migrant workers but those who are of economic benefit to the UK. He is fundamentally behind a full NHS and backs campaigns in the Downe and Daisy Hill hospitals. He believes in a fairer tax system, and he wants to block the £55 million spent a day on EU membership. He is also opposed to same sex marriage.
Harold McKee, Kilkeel-based UUP candidate, a parent of three adopted children, is part of a party that has aligned itself with the DUP for the election, the second largest party in Northern Ireland. Essentially, while their party leader has allowed a free vote on issues of same sex marriage, they are fundamentally on the same ground as the DUP, ie strictly opposed to same sex marriage and generally opposing LGBT rights. Harold believes that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman as indicated in the bible. He is deeply concerned at the fabric of society being compromised by the dilution of the concept of marriage. He is also a former quarry manager and is keen to see road improvements in South Down and general economic prosperity,
These are just a few of my views on the candidates, but check their websites for full manifesto statements.
Whatever you do, use your vote. Many people fought for decades so we could have the right to vote, and we must exercise this democratic right.
Who would St Patrick vote for??]]>
