SDLPY Chair Cllr Matthew McDermott was part of an SDLP delegation that met with Irish Environment Minister, John Gormley TD to discuss North South arrangements, Climate Change and the SDLPY campaign “The Countdown is on” regarding international climate talks in Copenhagen.

The delegation included Chair of Assembly Environment Committee Dolores Kelly MLA, Chair of the Assembly Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee Alban Maguinness MLA and Chair of SDLPY Cllr Matthew McDermott.  

After the meeting Cllr McDermott said, ‘ The SDLP pushed the Minister to press the DUP and SF to have Climate Change included on the agenda of North South meetings. As it is not on the agenda it can’t be discussed at these meetings, which is an absurd situation.

‘ The go slow approach of the two ruling parties is unacceptable; if we don’t act on climate change now, future generations face disaster in so many ways.

Regarding the SDLPY campaign Cllr McDermott said, ‘ Climate Change is the most important issue facing my generation and the agreement being sought in Copenhagen in December is crucial. I outlined to the Minister that SDLPY will be rolling out a campaign throughout November, visiting our schools and seeking signatures to an online petition from our students, of all ages.

‘ These are the people that generally don’t have a vote but want a voice. The petition will be calling for a 40% cut in emissions by 2025 and an assistance fund for developing countries to adopt. It will be delivered to the Irish and British governments before they embark for Copenhagen.

European Candidate Alban Maginness this morning launched the SDLP’s EU Election Manifesto at the Radisson SAS hotel in the Gasworks, Belfast. It’s online here.

Thanks to @wimps for this.

I’ve been reflecting on the 2005 Westminster election and its similarities for us in this European campaign. There are a number of comparisons we can draw - and from which we can draw inspiration.

Both in Foyle and in South Belfast in 2005, we were being told that the race was too close to call. Some of the Bookies had Mark Durkan and Alasdair McDonnell as favourites to win a seat, others favoured Mitchel McLaughlin and Jimmy Spratt. On the Monday before the election, the Derry News predicted that Mitchel McLaughlin was going to be victorious. Mitchel himself went on national TV and proclaimed that viewers were looking at ‘the next MP for Foyle’. He was right - Mark was standing beside him.

This time out, some commentators are again saying that it’s too close to call. They’re also saying that the SDLP is fighting a very strong campaign and that the split unionist vote gives Alban a great chance - just as it did for Alasdair four years ago.

So what really made the difference for us in 2005? The answer is simple. As a party, we answered Mark’s call from his speech at the SDLP Conference that February: “Get out on every street and on every doorstep and fight like you have never fought before for the SDLP, the values we uphold and the vision we hold out.”

And what happened? We won in Foyle. We won in South Belfast. We won in South Down.

A couple of days ago, I found a story online from the evening of the count in 2005. It makes for very interesting reading four years on. Its headline is “DURKAN TRIUMPHS IN FOYLE CONSTITUENCY.”

We have 10 days to go in this election. If you haven’t already been out on the canvass in your area, for whatever reason, now is the time. The last week and a half will make all the difference. If you want to help, but don’t know how, give me a call on 90247700 and I’ll point you in the right direction. Let’s give the commentators another big, positive story to write about the SDLP. Let’s write a new headline for ourselves: “MAGINNESS TRIUMPHS IN EUROPEAN ELECTION”. We have 10 days. Let’s put our shoulders to the wheel.

Best wishes

Ronan McCay
Director of Organisation & Election Planning

If you’re interested in winning free tickets to either Beyonce in Belfast or to Oxegen 2009 just watch the two minute video and answer the really simple question. Couldn’t be easier. Good luck!

Please email answers to albanforeurope@sdlp.ie and please pass this message on to your friends.

SDLP Youth International Secretary Barry Magee has lent his support to Alban Maginness on behalf of the SDLP Youth group. 

Endorsing Alban Mr Magee said:

“In two weeks time, we go to the polls to vote for Europe. Young people will have two options- vote for change or more of the same.

This election is not just about Brussels- it is about here too. Europe is not over there, it is here also. We are Europe.

Over the past 5 years Northern Ireland has lost out in Europe. Our current MEPs are either eurosceptic or peripheralised in Brussels. They have had made no impact in Brussels and now is the time for change.

At home the DUP/ Sinn Fein-led Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has failed to capitalise on the opportunities offered to it by Europe and in particular by the European Commission’s Northern Ireland Taskforce Report.

In fact there has been glaring failure to capitalise on the opportunities for greater policy linkages and cooperation with Europe. Better cooperation with Europe is vital as Europe is playing an ever more important role in all our lives.

The economic crisis has highlighted that we need Europe. But we need the right type of Europe. A vote for Alban will be a vote for a Europe that will bring forward proposals to tackle the economic crisis and the hardships faced by many of us in our daily lives.

Alban is committed to creating a Europe that puts people first, a Europe of progress, of equality, of solidarity, of democracy.

A vote for Alban will be a vote for the Europe of sustainable development, of decent work for all, of social security, of high quality education and healthcare. Alban will put forward the Europe of the young, the old, of workers and of women.

Young people need Europe and young people need the SDLP in Europe. As part of our involvement with the European Community of Socialist Youth, SDLP Youth have been working to put young people at the front of the European agenda, both here and in Brussels.

We want to solve this economic crisis where the neoliberals and the neoconservatives have brought us, both here in Northern Ireland and across Europe.

Now is the time of Change. Change for Northern Ireland. Change for Europe. Change for the Europeans! Support Alban Maginness and help create a Europe that puts young people first!”

Help out on the campaign: albanforeurope[at]sdlp.ie.

Find out more about Alban 4 Europe: http://www.albanforeurope.eu/

Join us in our mission: http://www.sdlpyouth.com/join.php

SDLP European Election candidate Alban Maginness MLA has welcomed children from all over Europe to Stormont on Tuesday.

SDLP European Election candidate Alban Maginness MLA has welcomed children from all over Europe to Stormont on Tuesday.

Mr Maginness MLA greeted the group of young children from Spain, Italy, France and Wales as they enjoyed a tour of Parliament Buildings at Stormont.

He said: “It is wonderful to see such a delightful mix of European cultures here today as part of the Comenius Project.

“Comenius seeks to develop knowledge and understanding among young people and educational staff of the diversity of European cultures, languages and values.

“It is hugely beneficial as it helps young people acquire the basic life skills and competences necessary for their personal development, for future employment and for active citizenship.”

Hello all – me again.

When I posted last week – I had a fairly tenuous quote from an Alliance Party source upon which I hung my assertion that Alban Maginness is in the race for a seat in this election. I admit now that I was stretching things somewhat. Ever since, I’ve been hoping that I’d be able to e-mail you again with something more substantive to underline my deeply held belief that the wind is at the SDLP’s back.

Then the sitting Ulster Conservative and Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson, went on BBC Radio Ulster on Sunday and said:

“The Unionist people of Northern Ireland are in danger of losing one of the two seats that they hold in the European Parliament. No one can call the outcome of this election. This is one election you cannot predict in any way, shape or form. But there is a great danger out there that with the Unionist vote being shredded three ways that two of the seats would not go to Unionists.”

And today, TUV MEP, Jim Allister went further still:

“There is a danger then that the SDLP could slip into a second seat…”

Add these to Liam Clarke’s comment in the Sunday Times:

“…Nicholson, who traditionally fights with the SDLP for the last seat, could become an also ran.”

People: it really is game on. The SDLP campaign is gaining momentum. Alban is playing an absolute blinder. We have 17 days to win back the SDLP seat in Europe. That is the prize. Let’s keep going.

Best wishes

Ronan McCay
Director of Organisation & Election Planning

The SDLP Party Election Broadcast was launched this morning at a Bloggers Breakfast in Dukes at Queens Hotel in Belfast.

I think this is an exclusive. I’m claiming it anyway! It’s on TV this evening, on BBC Two at 17.55, UTV at 18.25 and BBC One at 18.55.

Alban Maginness is asking young people to vote for him on June 4th. He wants to restore the voice of the people of Northern Ireland, with a very simple message - When We Win, You Win!

An article by William Graham in the Irish News should underline the reality for us all that – if we work for it over the next 27 days – Alban Maginness can win back the SDLP seat in Europe:

“There will also be considerable interest in the third seat held by Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson and whether there is any possibility of the SDLP’s Alban Maginness being in with a chance of coming through the middle. Research for the SDLP by an American, Dr Michael Moriarty, points to 65 000 potential new voters on the register and claims that the breakdown is approximately 50 000 nationalist and 15 000 unionist. He adds that the party needs an additional 20 000 votes to win a seat.

“Most observers believe the SDLP faces an uphill battle if it is to come within range although there could be a knock-on effect from the Allister factor that would mean the UUP vote starting from a much lower projected figure…”

Commentators could have been writing the SDLP off by now, but they’re not. They’re saying we’re very much in the race. The Irish News article shows that this election is game on, that it’s in our hands and that it can be done.

Michael Moriarty is telling us we need to add at least 20 000 votes to our 2004 total to be really in with a shout. Let’s look at two key facts:
(1) In the 2004 European election, the SDLP polled 87 559.
(2) In the 2005 Westminster election, less than one year later, we polled 125 626.
So less than a year after the 2004 election, we didn’t just add 20 000 votes to our 2004 total – we added 38 067. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.

Like many of you, every election I’ve been involved in has been an “uphill battle”. None more so than the 2005 Westminster campaign in Foyle. With pure hard work on the ground, we won then. The same attitude and approach will see us win now. Alban Maginness has been campaigning tirelessly and brilliantly for months now. Let’s all get out there for the last few weeks and give everything we have to make this happen.

Best wishes

Ronan McCay
Director of Organisation & Election Planning