DRUMCREE, or rather the blockbade of Larne which followed the standoff of 1995, changed the image of Roy Beggs, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP for East Antrim. He was transformed "from a perceived moderate to a perceived hardliner in a matter of days.
Although always quite staunch he was viewed as being on the reasonable, considered branch of unionism. He even made that point when electioneering before the last Westminster election in 1992.
Facing the challenge of a DUP candidate, he said he and his party were not the type who engaged with vigilantism. "I'll not be going up any mountains," he then told The Irish Times in a snipe at the DUP's fairly brief flirtation with Ulster's Third Force in the early 1980s.
Mr Beggs is quite happy to stand over his apparent metamorphosis, although he argues that in helping block Larne he was only doing what any honourable unionist would do.
He was prosecuted for participating in the protest. But the charges were "politically motivated", inspired by those in the "Northern Ireland Office who connived with the Republic's Maryfield Secretariat", he says.
Hard words, and a politician with no regrets, obviously. "I will never walk away from any difficult situation in which I have to take a stand. I will be identified with my own people," he adds.
But how, therefore, could he represent nationalists in his constituency? "The nationalists who live in my area can speak for me as they find me, and for the service I provide them."
Mr Beggs views Drumcree, Larne and all the other protests and disturbances as an issue of civil rights for unionist people. "Despite the large amount of protesters, there was not a single stone thrown in Lame, or the slightest bit of damage to property," he added.
"There was even a lorry caught in the midst of the crowd containing £100,000 worth of whiskey. What would have happened had that been in west Belfast?"
East Antrim stretches from the outskirts of north Belfast, taking in the main towns of Carrickfergus and Larne along the way, terminating just past the fringes of the Glens of Antrim.
Mr Beggs's main opposition is from the DUP and the Alliance Party. He first won the seat with a tiny majority of only 367 votes against the DUP 14 years ago. In 1992 he had increased that majority to more than 7,000 votes despite the formidable opposition of the DUP secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds.
The Larne councillor Mr Jack McKee, is the flag carrier for the DUP this time. He is telling people on the doorstep that the DUP is safer on the union and that ultimately the UUP will sell out.
The Alliance candidate, Mr Sean Neeson, will campaign on his work record and on the need for moderate politicians to try to strengthen the middle ground in the face of another potentially incendiary summer.
"There are many unionists in East Antrim, particularly those, from the business community, who want to send the message that we don't want another Drumcree or blockade of Larne. I hope to gain from that," he says.
Mr Danny O'Connor of thee SDLP will try to garner as many votes as possible in this constituency, where the nationalist vote is estimated at around 10 per cent.
The Conservative Party is standing a Belfast man, Mr Terry Dick (no relation to the outgoing London Tory MP, Mr Terry Dicks).
Mr Beggs is unperturbed by all the opposition. He has been MP for East Antrim since 1983, and reckons he will remain its member of Parliament after May 1st.
