Northern Ireland

Raymond McCord: 'I'm voting for SDLP's Nichola Mallon'

Victims' campaigner Raymond McCord said he will vote for the SDLP. Picture by Victoria Jones, Press Association
Victims' campaigner Raymond McCord said he will vote for the SDLP. Picture by Victoria Jones, Press Association Victims' campaigner Raymond McCord said he will vote for the SDLP. Picture by Victoria Jones, Press Association

VICTIMS' campaigner Raymond McCord has said he will give his first preference vote to the SDLP next month.

Mr McCord, from a staunchly unionist background in north Belfast, has campaigned for victims after his son Raymond jnr was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries 20 years ago.

He said he would vote for SDLP North Belfast candidate Nichola Mallon because she is "the best person for the job".

"Anyone who knows me, knows me as a proud unionist from a proud unionist family," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"But I'm not afraid to say that, this time, I'm voting SDLP."

He said he would give Ulster Unionist candidate Robert Foster his second preference.

"But under no circumstances will the DUP get anything from me. Neither will Sinn Féin, because to me they're the same," he said.

Mr McCord said he would also help canvass for People Before Profit candidate Eamonn McCann in Derry next week.