A round-up of other election news in brief
Adams on the offensive against SDLP
Gerry Adams was on the campaign trail in Derry last night exhorting the troops to support candidate Martina Anderson against the sitting SDLP MP for Foyle, Mark Durkan.
He devoted much of a 2,000- word speech to criticising the SDLP – similar to the DUP broadsides against the UUP – for refusing to engage in a unity pact with Sinn Féin in South Belfast and Fermanagh- South Tyrone.
The SDLP has been focusing on the refusal of Sinn Féin MPs to take their seats in the House of Commons but this cut no ice with Mr Adams. The Sinn Féin leader asked his audience: “Did you know that the SDLP record of voting attendance at Westminster is so bad that were they attending school, their parents would have been taken to court.”
Nesbitt's digits
Former UTV news anchorman Mike Nesbitt, now the UCUNF candidate bidding to snatch Iris Robinson’s seat, has revealed his mobile phone number ends in 1690.
Quite how this close association with the Battle of the Boyne ties in with the Conservative pledge to offer a break from the sectarian politics of the past is as yet unclear. Mr Nesbitt’s DUP rival, Jim Shannon, may be pressed to come up with similar digital proof of his unionist credentials
Spratt's hope
South Belfast DUP candidate Jimmy Spratt’s posters are already going up in the unpredictable SDLP-held constituency. However he says he is more than willing to see all his literature pulped but only if Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey “does the right thing” and agrees a single unionist unity candidate.
Such a move would threaten Alasdair McDonnell’s seat. However the Conservative wing of this alliance continues to resist and there is no sign yet of posters for its candidate Paula Bradshaw being carted off to the recycling plant. But nominations don’t close until 4pm next Tuesday.
Eight extra words for 'wrecker' Reg
DUP Minister Arlene Foster maintained the pressure on UUP leader Sir Reg Empey to agree a unity unionist candidate in South Belfast and break off his liaison with the Tories.
Having read David Cameron’s manifesto, she noted: “The 2005 manifesto had a grand total of 79 words” on the North. “This measly offering contains 87, so Reg has wrecked his own party for a paltry eight extra words.”
William Ross eyes comeback, at 74
Veterans such as Ian Paisley and the SDLP’s Eddie McGrady decided to bow out ahead of this election to give younger candidates their opportunity. But no such ageist concerns for former Ulster Unionist MP in East Derry William Ross. At 74 he has decided to recontest the seat he held for 27 years but lost to the DUP’s Gregory Campbell nine years ago. He’s running for Jim Allister’s TUV.