Former TV journalist Fearghal McKinney admitted today he had a fight on his hands to win a Westminster seat after announcing his intention to stand for the SDLP in the coming general election.
The ex-Ulster Television political reporter will have to oversee a major change in fortunes for his new party if he is to capture Fermanagh and South Tyrone from incumbent Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew.
The SDLP trailed in fourth in the 2005 poll with only 14 per cent of the vote. Its 7,230 tally was dwarfed by the 18,700 votes secured by Mrs Gildernew.
Mr McKinney (47), who spent 25 years as a journalist, is the second high-profile media figure to enter the political fray since the new year, following his one-time UTV colleague Mike Nesbitt’s decision to run for the Conservatives and Unionists in Strangford.
“This is a new era for politics and a new era for the SDLP,” he said as he submitted his candidacy application at SDLP headquarters in Belfast this morning. “This country needs a strong SDLP and the people of the North need strong representation at Westminster.”
With sitting SDLP Assembly member in the area Tommy Gallagher not putting his name forward for the Westminster poll, Mr McKinney should have a clear run at the party’s nomination.
Party leader Margaret Ritchie joined Mr McKinney at SDLP headquarters in Belfast as he announced his decision.
“When I became leader, I promised to bring through a new generation of SDLP representatives,” she said. “The SDLP are offering people a new agenda and with the addition of Fearghal we are offering people a new politician with an exciting future.”
Mr McKinney left UTV last year to set up his own digital media business. He is involved in the online news outlet Fermanagh TV.