Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey was selected last night to contest the West Belfast seat in next year’s Westminster election. Mr Maskey succeeded party leader Gerry Adams when he won the seat in a byelection in 2011.
Mr Maskey said it was vital that his party stood firm against Tory plans to impose welfare cuts on the North.
“We are taking the lead in challenging the Tory welfare cuts; we are the party who will block the welfare cuts; we are the party who will protect working families, the working poor; we will protect the unemployed and those with disabilities.
“Next week I will be attending the British Labour party conference and I will be making it very clear to Labour MPs and party activists that we will oppose any effort to impose welfare cuts on the people of the North.
He continued: “As the debate in Scotland has demonstrated there is a strong and convincing argument to be made for independence, an argument that even one-time opponents of the concept of independence find they can buy into. Therefore our party will continue to demand a Border poll to put the case for Irish unity and independence to the electorate.”