Everything Ulster - Election 2005

The Conservatives are only standing in 3 seats in Northern Ireland - and why should we vote for them since they're so unlikely to win? Well the Northern Ireland Conservatives were allotted a brief Party Election Broadcast last night and here's a summary.

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East Belfast has long been a safe seat for the DUP's Peter Robinson since he was elected in 1979. It's an overwhelmingly Unionist constituency, but includes the nationalist stronghold of the Short Strand. It's the smallest constituency in Northern Ireland, with a population of 79,621 in the 2001 census and a 2001 electorate of 58,455 and 63% turnout. It takes in the eastern quarter of Belfast city council and 9 of the 23 Castlereagh DEAs and is the home of the Alliance's former leader, Lord Alderdice. Issues affecting the local area include planning, in particular the evergrowing number of new apartments, and the expansion of Belfast City Airport.

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HANDS up, we made a mistake. Everything Ulster would like to issue an apology over an article posted yesterday regarding UUP MLA Michael (not Ray) Copeland. I completely misread the source and thanks to a commenter on the site going by the name of Traditional Unionist, have realised my mistake.

Firstly the MLA in question is Michael Copeland, not Ray as originally posted.

He is an MLA for East Belfast, not North Down.

He is not connected with North Down Borough Council, who had their offices searched. Therefore their claim that "no councillor or member of council staff" was involved does not vindicate Mr Copeland (although in fairness we must point out no charges have been brought either at this moment in time). He is currently a councillor on Castlereagh Borough Council.

I will resume my 'wait and see' stance on this issue, and apologise again to EU readers.

beano

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