SDLP Westminster candidate for South Down Margaret Ritchie has emphasised the importance of electing candidates in the upcoming general election who will go to Westminster to take their seats.
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Margaret Ritchie MP hands in her election papers at the Banbridge electoral office. Included is Cllr Colin McGrath.[/caption]
Ms Ritchie said: “SDLP MP’s go to Westminster to take their seats to represent our constituents and to stand up for the interests of the North. We have seen evidence that Northern Ireland has been disproportionately affected by the Tories’ ideologically motivated austerity agenda. Despite this, the DUP are lining up as lobby fodder for them while Sinn Fein candidates are unable to offer any real opposition at Westminster.
“A lot of voters may not realise this but Sinn Fein do go to Westminster. They go there to collect their expenses and attend the wine receptions. In fact they enjoy most of the trappings of being an MP other than actually taking their seats, representing their constituents and opposing Tory cuts. Sinn Fein will again be making a lot of noise on the side-lines rather than getting involved on the pitch.
“If elected, SDLP MP’s will immediately get to work in the House of Commons fighting for local interests on the economy, creating jobs, opposing austerity and supporting our farmers and fishermen. These are our principles and this fight will be our priority. We will work closely with Labour and the other Westminster parties who oppose austerity to build a progressive platform that will shut the door to Downing Street in David Cameron’s face.
“The electorate have the choice between the DUP working as David Cameron’s errand boys, Sinn Fein not working at all, or sending SDLP MP’s to Westminster to work for all the people to secure a sound economic future for Northern Ireland,” added Ms Ritchie.
This attack on the Sinn Féin abstentionist position at Westminster by Ms Ritchie and her condemnation of the DUP effort to increase their political weight if there is no clear majority and a coalition emerges, may be a warning to the electorate that a period of political instability may lie ahead in UK politics. With Labour in strong contention with the Tories, UKIP snapping at the heels of the Tories, the Lib-Dems likely to be a party of no significance and the SNP up on their toes, it could be a very tempestuous summer after the election, when smaller parties vie for political power and the traditional two-party system goes to the wall.
Politics in the UK may never be the same again!
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