SDLP get outside help for election
The SDLP has recruited strategists from the British Labour Party, Irish Labour and the PDs for its Assembly election campaign, it emerged today.
Former Stormont agriculture minister Brid Rodgers has been appointed as the party’s director of elections.
As the party embarked on campaigning in Northern Ireland’s 18 constituencies across Northern Ireland, it was confirmed that her former adviser, Conal McDevitt, has been drafted in to help.
Belfast-born Adrian McMenamin has also been recruited from the Labour Party in Britain.
Jack Murray, a former adviser to Progressive Democrat junior minister Tom Parlon, and Ronan Farren, of the Irish Labour party, have also joined the SDLP’s election team from Dublin to work alongside party press officer James Dillon.
The SDLP is due to preview its party election broadcast in Belfast tomorrow.
It has also set up a press centre in Belfast city centre for the duration of the campaign.
Strategists remain bullish about the party’s election prospects on November 26 despite Sinn Féin’s successes in the 2001 Westminster and local government elections.
A party source said: “Despite all these claims that we are a party under pressure, I think we can do well.
“There is a possibility of seats in South Antrim, North Down, North Antrim and Strangford.
“The party is also in a good shape to defend seats in Lagan Valley, East Antrim, West Tyrone, Newry and Armagh.
“A lot of where the final seats fall in this election is going to depend on transfers from other candidates.”
Mrs Rodgers today said her party had been “galvanised” by events in the peace process in recent weeks.
“We have a good press operation and there is a real desire out there among our activists to fight our corner,” she said.
“The handling of what was supposed to be a deal in recent days shows why people need the SDLP there.
“People write the SDLP off at their peril in this election.”
