Dromore by-election announcement
12 January 2008
Above: Cllr Stephen Herron (Election Agent), Keith Harbinson and Jim Allister MEP
Statement by Traditional Unionist Voice:
“Following a meeting of its Central Council in Lurgan last night, Traditional Unionist Voice can confirm that it will contest the Dromore by-election.
We are pleased to announce that our candidate will be Dromore solicitor, Keith Harbinson. Mr Harbinson is also involved with the Loyal Orders and in football circles as a referee.
Speaking of his candidature Keith Harbinson said, “I am honoured to have the opportunity to offer the people of Dromore and District a chance to have their voice heard and to represent them in local government on local issues. There is a lot of discontent within the Unionist Community at present and many are sickened by the cosying up to Sinn Fein at Stormont, especially given the Assembly’s failure to deliver anything of substance to date, while physical attacks on our culture continue.
There are many issues and grievances emanating from the actions and inactions of the Assembly, which are impacting directly at local level and on every one of us in our day-to-day lives, like Sinn Fein’s proposals to wreck our education system. My candidature will hopefully give those with the courage and conviction to do so a platform on which to voice this dissatisfaction effectively.”
Commenting Jim Allister MEP said, “I am delighted that we can offer the people of Dromore and district a candidate of the calibre and ability of Keith Harbinson. Working among the people of Dromore he is well versed in the local issues and has the professional capacity to give them excellent representation on Banbridge Council, where we already have a hard-working councillor, Stephen Herron.
I look forward to this campaign as the first opportunity for unionist voters to pass their verdict on what has been done in their name at Stormont: unrepentant terrorists at the heart of government, the IRA’s evil Army Council still in operation, Sinn Fein’s military wing still carrying out such crimes as the murder of Paul Quinn, and all this while Ian Paisley chuckles away with Martin McGuinness.
This by-election may lie within what is perceived as a DUP heartland, but our purpose will be to give voters the opportunity to have their say.”
