CONSTITUENCY PROFILE: DERRY EAST:IF ANY Northern constituency highlights the tensions within unionism, this is it.
Divisions between the DUP, the Ulster Unionists and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) run deep in this solidly unionist area.
It was here that DUP MP Gregory Campbell defeated long-standing Ulster Unionist hardliner William Ross in 2001, when the new constituency was created. Mr Campbell’s party has consolidated here ever since and now returns three of the six local Assembly members.
Campbell defeated Ross by outflanking him at a time when unionists were jittery about the Belfast Agreement and about sharing power with nationalists including Sinn Féin. Ross’s opposition to the agreement was not enough to save him from the assault from an especially hard-working Campbell.
This vote sees Ross attempting to gain sweet revenge on the DUP by standing for the TUV, which is resolutely opposed to sharing power with republicans. It is thus a rerun of sorts of the 2001 election, with the adversaries squaring up to each other again. This time, however, Campbell is the incumbent, advocating the status quo, while Ross is the rival attacking from the flanks.
The constituency is a broadly rural one, where unionists roughly outnumber their nationalist neighbours by 2:1. In 2005 Campbell romped home, beating his Ulster Unionist rival with 42 per cent of the popular vote to Ross’s 21 per cent.
The SDLP managed to keep a step ahead of Sinn Féin by 17 per cent to 16 per cent.
But that was in the days of a suspended Stormont, when the talk was of IRA decommissioning and the standing down of the paramilitary organisation itself.
With the IRA off the stage, this election is being held against the backdrop of the agreement to share power with republicans, the transfer of justice powers and emergence of the TUV, which continues to shout “stop” at the entire process. The accusation of sell-out has particular resonance in unionism. This time it will be for Campbell to defend and for Ross to criticise.
The Ulster Unionist and Conservative joint banner is being flown by Lesley Macaulay, who is keen to offer the electorate a fresh face and a pan-UK form of politics which breaks all links with sectarianism.
Divisions remain, most notably in some areas of Coleraine, which saw the sectarian murder of Kevin McDaid nearly a year ago.
Thomas Conway has the SDLP nomination in preference to Assembly deputy speaker John Dallat. The party will try to build on its slender advantage over Sinn Féin, represented this time by another first-time Westminster candidate, Cathal Ó hÓisin.
Barney Fitzpatrick, a local councillor and retired police officer, is standing for Alliance.
OUTGOING MP: GREGORY CAMPBELL
CANDIDATES NOMINATED TO DATE:
Gregory CampbellDUP
Thomas ConwaySDLP
Barney FitzpatrickAlliance
Lesley MacaulayUlster Conservatives and Unionists – New Force
Cathal O hOisinSF
William RossTUV
LAST ELECTION 2005 Votes % + / -
Gregory Campbell(DUP) 15,225 42.9% +10.8%
David McClarty(UUP) 7,498 21.1% -6.3%
John Dallat(SDLP) 6,077 17.1% -3.7%
Billy Leonard(SF) 5,709 16.1% +0.5%
Yvonne Boyle(Alliance) 924 2.6% -1.5%
Malcolm Samuel(Ind) 71 0.2% +0.2%