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.

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

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.”

Hi Folks

We are now 15 days away from winning back the SDLP’s seat in Europe. The campaign is gaining real momentum and Alban is playing a blinder. Political commentators are realising Alban can take a seat. Jim Nicholson is realising his seat could now be lost, and Jim Allister admits: “the SDLP could slip into a second seat“. The SDLP have a real chance to represent NI in Europe for the next 5 years. We can win and you can make it happen.

We must all do our best over the next 2 weeks to get our friends, family, neighbours and community behind Alban. There are canvass teams out on the ground every day in every constituency, and I’d urge you to support them.

Party HQ has organised a Grand Prize Draw with proceeds in aid of Alban’s European Election Campaign Fund & Local Branches. Prizes include a brand new car from Donnelly Group, three cash prizes, and All-Ireland tickets.

1st Prize: New Mitsubishi Colt
2nd Prize: £2,000
3rd Prize: £1,000
4th Prize: £500
5th Prize: 2 All-Ireland Tickets (2009 Football Final)

Tickets are sold at £1 per line or £10 per card.

I was sent a batch of tickets to sell about a month ago, but time flies and now there’s only a few days left, so I’d appreciate your help!

£10 isn’t much and look at the prizes! I’ll buy £20 worth myself and I’d encourage others to do similar!

Please get in touch if you’d like to purchase some tickets (info AT sdlpyouth.com). I think the deadline is this Friday and the draw takes place on 30th May. There are lots of ways to pay and you’ll get full proof of purchase!

Best wishes

Peter Armstrong

Chair
SDLP Youth

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

SDLP Youth will be attending the annual May Day Parade in Belfast on Saturday 2nd May to coincide with the global call to action for International Labour Day on 1st May. The Parade will gather at 11.30am at St Anne’s Cathedral followed by a march and some entertainment at St George’s Market. All welcome.

As SDLP Youth’s International Secretary I would like to draw your attention to the wider purpose of International Labour Day.

At this time of economic crisis, when people are losing their jobs and employment protections are being rolled back, it is important that workers stand together in solidarity in the face of depreciating social conditions.  

In the North the dominance of public sector employment has until recently somewhat hidden the negative consequences of the economic crisis. However the impacts of the economic crisis are now beginning to be revealed- with workers, private sector workers in particular, now beginning to find themselves at the mercy of the failing economic markets. There are many recent cases that reflect this, including the much publicised plight of Visteon workers.

In this climate of economic uncertainty it is vital that workers have strong safety nets and that governments help those that become unemployed to quickly find another job, training or education course. It is therefore imperatively urgent that the Assembly works together to implement a strong social response to this crisis. There can be no room for policy inertia- the DUP and Sinn Fein need to set aside petty political positioning and start delivering for workers.

But these tough times must be met with progressive policies- not the tired, old rhetoric and economic philosophy that has been the inherent root cause for this economic malaise. This economic regime has failed Europe, like it has the rest of the world, and it is obvious that now is the time for new leadership.

That is why it is important that the Party of European Socialists, the SDLP’s mother party at the European-level, is returned as the strongest grouping in the European Parliament at the June European elections. You can play your part- give your support to Alban Maginness and help create a more socially conscious Europe that puts people first!

In solidarity,

Barry Magee