It is reported here that SF have approached the SDLP about a pact to cover the South Belfast and Fermanagh & South Tyrone constituencies. These are the two areas that have been targetted by the Orange Order.
The BBC reports that the offer was rejected by the SDLP. A decision that will ensure that the campaign of the SDLP's newest member Mc Kinney just got a whole lot more difficult.
There is already a thread on F&ST but I feel this news is worthy of a thread of its own.
Delighted to hear it.
Let the Unionists engage in petty-minded sectarianism if they want and allow nationalists to have a proper election like grown ups.
Unenthusiastic about any of the buggers.
Frankly, SF shouldn't have offered to create a pact. The people of F/ST are smart enough to realise that if they don't want a Unionist MP, then they will have to vote for Michelle Gildernew. It should be a decision left to the voters, rather than attempting to artificially create more Orange/Green divides.Originally Posted by Pat Mc Larnon
1,197 people agree with me.. how many agree with you ?
+1
I get a hint that what is driving this is the prospect that Connor might draw support from across the community, hence the desperate efforts to paint him as the 'Orange Order candidate'.
Unenthusiastic about any of the buggers.
SDLP look like they have been out played by the SFs. This will look like they are risking seats and have turned down the opportunity to return two nationalist MPs(one SF one SDLP). IF this is true they might be punished at the polls.
You are saying that an SDLP voter in South Down is going to vote Sinn Fein instead because the SDLP wouldn't stand aside in F&ST and deny SDLP voters there the chance to vote SDLP...
Can't see it myself.
Unenthusiastic about any of the buggers.
It was right to speak with the SDLP. At least to discuss the situation with them.
ROC - as yous say FST nationalists will vote SF anyhow. Its a real divide. There would be no artifically created divide resulting from a SDLP/SF pact to deliver natinalist seats.
So SDLP leadership loser looks like he is a dead duck and SDLP leadership winner may be responsible for nationalism losing FST.
Rock and a hard place.
Dont forget Assembly elections next year. This wont help their fight back
Nor will it hinder it, I suspect.
Unenthusiastic about any of the buggers.
As a SDLP supporter in South Down I think this is a good move from Ritchie. Shows that the SDLP are prepared to stand by their convictions and fight on their principles rather than get bogged down in 'tribal politics'.
Also a pact in South Belfast would have gained them little anyway.
Looks like the Shinners are firmly on the back foot
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