Farmers' leader tipped as European candidate
A Northern Ireland farmers’ leader was tonight being tipped as a possible agreed candidate in June’s European Parliament election.
Ulster Farmers’ Union president John Gilliland, who steps down from his post next week, has been approached to contest the election as a pro-European Union and pro-Good Friday Agreement candidate, according to several political sources.
However Mr Gilliland, who owns a renewable energy business in Derry, insisted he was focusing purely on his role in the farm union.
“At the moment my name is not in the frame,” he stressed.
“Right now I am concentrating on seeing out my presidency.”
But despite his denial, political sources insisted tonight that he was being considered as a strong candidate for the June election.
One source said: “John is a very articulate and able public representative.
“He has wide experience of Europe and international affairs.
“With the Reverend Ian Paisley not contesting the election this June, he could if he runs be able to take a sizeable chunk of the farmers’ vote that would have gone to the Democratic Unionist Party.”
Earlier this year, DUP leader Ian Paisley and former SDLP leader John Hume announced separately that they would not be seeking re-election.
Barrister Jim Allister was selected as the DUP’s candidate instead.
Belfast Lord Mayor Martin Morgan will be the standard bearer for the SDLP in June.
Northern Ireland elects three MEP’s to the parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels.
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson will defend his seat.
However, former Stormont Health Minister Bairbre de Brun has been selected as Sinn Féin’s candidate and party strategists are hopeful that she can pick up their first European parliament seat following the departure of Mr Hume.
The Green Party have announced that single mother Marie Perry will fight the election for them.
Former civil rights campaigner and journalist Eamonn McCann is due to contest the election for the Socialist Environmental Alliance.
