Northern Ireland

Seamus Mallon disappointed by former SDLP leader Mark Durkan’s decision to stand as a Fine Gael candidate

Former Deputy Leader of the SDLP Seamus Mallon. Picture by Mal McCann.
Former Deputy Leader of the SDLP Seamus Mallon. Picture by Mal McCann. Former Deputy Leader of the SDLP Seamus Mallon. Picture by Mal McCann.

Seamus Mallon has said he was disappointed by former SDLP leader Mark Durkan’s decision to stand as a Fine Gael candidate in next week’s European election.

The veteran SDLP man has also given fresh backing to current party leader Colum Eastwood as he leads his party into the elections.

Mr Durkan declared for Leo Varadkar’s party last month and is standing in the Dublin constituency.

A former MP, Mr Durkan lost his Westminster seat to Sinn Féin in 2017.

His decision to stand for Fine Gael came weeks before British Prime Minister Teresa May confirmed Britain's participation in the polls on May 23.

Mr Mallon praised Mr Eastwood and said he is still the man to lead the SDLP but added that Mr Durkan’s defection to Fine Gael was a setback.

“He’s doing well,” he said.

“He got a rough ride there.

“Mark Durkan leaving, which was a terrible blow to him especially as he wasn’t told. (And) him living a few streets away.

“He has had a rough time, he has come out of this election well and I think he will do well in the European elections, I hope he wins.”

“It will be difficult for him but he has a good chance.

The former Deputy First Minister said he was baffled by Mr Durkan’s decision, which came without warning.

“I had no idea at all,” he said.

“I just can’t understand it because number one it’s problematic as to whether he will win down there.

“And number two, he left Derry at a time when his role in Derry was going to be grossly improved.

“I just don’t know why.”

 Mr Durkan is set to receive the sixth most first-preference votes in Dublin for the European elections, a new poll suggests.

Eight per cent of voters surveyed intend to give their first preference to the former Foyle MP, who is running in the four-seat constituency as a Fine Gael candidate.

This places him behind his running mate Frances Fitzgerald (17 per cent), Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan (13 per cent), Fianna Fáil's Barry Andrews (12 per cent), Green Party's Ciarán Cuffe (11 per cent) and Independents 4 Change's Clare Daly (nine per cent).

Dublin gained an extra MEP seat in this election in anticipation of the UK leaving the European Union.

But with Brexit stalled and the UK now taking part in the elections, the fourth candidate deemed elected in Dublin will not take their seat until the UK withdraws from the EU.

The Red C poll for Dublin involved interviews with a random sample of more than 500 adults aged 18+ by telephone and online between May 6 and May 16 2019. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 per cent.

In the Republic, the European election will be held on Friday on the same day as the south's 2019 council elections and a referendum on easing restrictions on divorce.

The European election vote in Northern Ireland will be held a day earlier, on Thursday.