DUP Backs Dodds In MEP Bid

A former DUP MLA has been selected as the party's candidate for the European Parliamentary elections.

While several other Euro candidates are already lining up for the election, with the SDLP's Alban Maginness and the Green's Steven Agnew declaring their candidacy, Diane Dodds, the Stormont Finance Minister's wife, is to be the Democratic Unionist Party's candidate.

Attention has focused on how she will have to take on the Traditional Unionist Voice Leader, Jim Allister at the June elections after the Belfast City councillor was selected at a meeting of the DUP's Executive at the La Mon House Hotel on Tuesday night.

However, the poll battle will also be between herself and Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun.

A DUP statement said: "This election will be a clear battle between the DUP and Sinn Féin. It is crucial that Sinn Féin does not top the poll.

"The DUP has proved that it is the only party capable of beating Sinn Féin. We want to ensure that two unionists are elected and Sinn Féin not handed a licence to parade on the world stage claiming to be the voice of Northern Ireland."

However, with three unionists standing for election – the UUP's MEP Jim Nicholson is also in the running and there would appear to be a very real chance Ms de Brun could top the vote because of a pro-Union split.

At the last Euro election in 2004, Mr Allister was a clear winner when he stood as a DUP candidate and took 175,761 votes – more than 30,000 ahead of Ms de Brun – who tallied 144,541.

Mr Nicholson took the third seat with 91,164 first preference votes and DUP transfers.

Mr Allister however said if anyone was going to damage unionism it was the DUP, as he and Mr Nicholson are the sitting MEPs, and should be allowed a clear run.

But he added he would relish the challenge of taking on Mrs Dodds.

Diane Dodds is said to have been instrumental in her husband's political rise in North Belfast as well as being DUP chief whip on the city council, and the woman who managed to take a seat from Sinn Fein in West Belfast at the 2003 Assembly elections.

There were three other contenders for the Euro candidacy within the DUP last night: DUP Councillor Deirdre Nelson, David McIlveen (son of Rev David McIlveen) and Roberta Patty-Coffey.

The East Belfast MLA Robin Newton had previously been in the running, but was not among those putting their names forward last night.

See: DUP Decision Looms Over MEP Nomination

(BMcC)