Sinn Fein and DUP accused of EU 'gibberish'

SDLP'S MANIFESTO LAUNCH: The SDLP, in launching its European Parliament election manifesto, has described Sinn Féin as "duplicitous", and both the DUP and Sinn Féin as uttering "gibberish" on EU matters.

SDLP candidate Mr Martin Morgan, supported by former leader and outgoing MEP Mr John Hume and party leader Mr Mark Durkan, said the SDLP was the only party that could deliver for the people of Northern Ireland in Europe.

"I have been listening to the gibberish of Sinn Féin/DUP, who are not interested in representing the people of Northern Ireland," he said in west Belfast yesterday.

"I have sat in radio and TV studios listening to Sinn Féin, who are more interested in maximising their own narrow, selfish, sectarian politics - of maximising their own vote. They don't talk about what they intend to achieve in Europe."

Mr Morgan, who is trying to hold on to Mr Hume's seat for the SDLP but faces a major challenge from Sinn Féin, said Sinn Féin did not have "a pedigree or credibility or record on European matters", and that there was a "duplicitous nature" to its politics.

Asked what he meant by duplicitous, he said: "When Sinn Féin talks about equality and human rights. I think for a lot of people that leaves a very sour taste in terms of the behaviour of the paramilitaries on the streets of Belfast and across Northern Ireland.

"When the SDLP talks about being pro-life in terms of being against capital punishment, against paramilitary activity, against terrorism, others can't state that claim."

Mr Morgan depicted the other lead candidates, Mr Jim Allister of the DUP, Ms Bairbre de Brún of Sinn Féin, and Mr Jim Nicholson of the Ulster Unionist Party, as being effectively opposed to the European Union.

He said the North must not be allowed to become a "backwater" because of such attitudes. "We cannot afford to elect three anti-European MEPs. We cannot afford to lose the influence which the SDLP has in Europe."

While there was great antagonism between the DUP and UUP election campaigns, both sides say they want two unionists returned to Europe for the North's three-seat constituency, implying that unionist voters should keep their number one and two votes within the "unionist family".

Mr Morgan said, however, it was a matter of "discretion" for his supporters how they transferred. "Our message is vote SDLP number one and the electorate can make up their minds after that."

His six main goals for Europe were to extend peace funding, to promote the euro and enlargement, to protect farmers' interests, to continue the drive for equality, to protect the environment, and to increase EU support for developing countries.