This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7868621.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Diane Dodds to fight Euro poll | Diane Dodds to fight Euro poll |
(10 minutes later) | |
Belfast City Councillor and former MLA Diane Dodds has been selected as the DUP's candidate for the European Parliamentary elections in June. | Belfast City Councillor and former MLA Diane Dodds has been selected as the DUP's candidate for the European Parliamentary elections in June. |
The announcement was made at a party meeting on Tuesday evening. | The announcement was made at a party meeting on Tuesday evening. |
Mrs Dodds will be running against former DUP member and sitting MEP Jim Allister. | Mrs Dodds will be running against former DUP member and sitting MEP Jim Allister. |
He took the seat when Ian Paisley retired in 2004. He later quit the party when it decided to enter power sharing with Sinn Fein. | He took the seat when Ian Paisley retired in 2004. He later quit the party when it decided to enter power sharing with Sinn Fein. |
Mrs Dodds said the forthcoming European elections would produce a "battle unlike any before". | |
"As a party dedicated to the union, we must ensure that the voice of Ulster is a unionist one," she said. | |
"Let us not be side-tracked, the top priority for us all at this election must be to stop Sinn Fein topping the poll. | |
"The only party that can give unionism the victory is the DUP." | |
DUP leader and NI First Minister Peter Robinson congratulated Mrs Dodds on her selection and said she had a proven track record in elections. | |
"Not only has she the highest first preference vote of any councillor in Northern Ireland, but in 2003 she stole a seat from Sinn Fein to become the first unionist elected by the West Belfast constituency in over 20 years. | |
"Diane won that seat by 87 votes. This too will be a closely contested battle between the DUP and Sinn Fein." |
Previous version
1
Next version