Politics

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood brands attacks on party's election candidates `totally futile'

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire SDLP leader Colum Eastwood. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood last night condemned attempts to intimidate his party's election candidates as "totally futile".

Mr Eastwood said his party would not "back down" following incidents involving candidates in west Belfast, east Belfast and Strangford.

On Monday, Paul Doherty, a candidate in west Belfast and who also set up food service Foodstock, was approached by men in the Shankill area.

He said he was told that he and his team were not welcome, with threats that their campaign materials would be taken.

This came after east Belfast candidate Charlotte Carson saw her election posters set on fire on Cyprus Avenue on Monday night, which resulted in the Fire Service being called.

At the end of last week, more than 20 posters belonging to Conor Houston, the party's candidate in Strangford, were stolen in Newtownards.

Mr Eastwood said: "SDLP candidates are out every day serving their communities and working hard to build a better future for all our people.

"These attacks on our party, our candidates and our campaign are totally futile - we have come under attack from violent thugs before.

"We have beaten them every time. We will beat them again.

"Some people want to make this election campaign a toxic race to the bottom on protocol and identity politics.

"They want to stop us reaching out to the people across all our communities who are begging for help to heat their homes and feed their kids - real problems that transcend political or community background.

"Wherever people need help, the SDLP will be there for them. We won’t back down."

Mr Eastwood said the attacks were "even more outrageous because they have been committed against a new generation of leaders in our party".

"Paul Doherty - a food bank director feeding hundreds of families every week and delivering humanitarian aid to Ukrainian civilians," he said.

"Charlotte Carson, a teacher in an integrated school with a passion for empowering young women and girls. Conor Houston - a man who has dedicated his life to reconciliation and peace building between our communities.

"Our candidates are a threat to no one but those who want to keep us all in the past.

"Paul, Charlotte and Conor are shattering old certainties, they are stepping up and stepping in to put people first. And they will have my support every step of the way."