Thank You

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Foyle for returning me as your MP. I am delighted to have received a new mandate as the MP for this city.

I am proud to be elected as an SDLP MP. I also have every intention of continuing to serve all of the people of Derry as a cross-community MP.

After this result, I have returned to work today with my office staff - working on the issues that affect and interest the people of this city.

This successful result in Foyle is down to excellent teamwork by an excellent campaign team. We ran our campaign as a tight fight – that is how we will always respect the people of Derry – we take nothing or no-one for granted.

I received very clear messages on the doorsteps that people were worried about jobs and the economy, disappointed at parties messing over education, angry at cuts already hitting our frontline services and anxious about more severe cuts to come. There is real work to be done.

People are less than impressed about what the Assembly is doing to improve performance and productivity. That is a clear message that we can all take out of this election. As the newly-elected MP for Foyle I will be doing all that I can to address those issues.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife and family. All of us in public life need to recognise the huge contribution that our families make. It is therefore important to remember not only their love, but also their support for our ideals and the causes we are fighting for. I would like to celebrate that today.

Bomb Planters Will Not Succeed

Everyone who values the will of the people were disgusted at the disruption caused to the election count in Templemore Sports Complex early this morning. They didn’t stand for election and the reason they didn’t stand is because they have no political case to make and no mandate.

They caused great distress and fear for vulnerable elderly people who had to be evacuated from sheltered housing at Donal Casey Court after midnight. No-one, especially elderly citizens, should be subjected to that.

Those responsible cynically exploited the media attention attached to this count to make their sinister presence felt. They disrupted the democratic process for a short time and succeeded in gathering some headlines but they will not succeed in anything else.

Final Push

I have been canvassing on the ground in every one of the 28 wards in the constituency.

The campaign team and I will sustain that effort today and tomorrow to maximise turnout on polling day.

I have been getting the message that people are worried about jobs and the economy, disappointed at parties messing over education, angry at cuts already hitting our frontline services and anxious about more severe cuts to come.

With such concerns and others, people appreciate the value of a committed and effective MP, working the seat, making their case and fighting their cause.

Planning Service Cuts Wrong

I fully understand the shock of Planning Service staff – many of them professional planners – who find themselves threatened with transfer because of a lack of strategy in budget and civil service management.

There is a need to make sure that this service is well-geared to take positive developments forward as we strive for recovery after the recession, particularly in the construction sector. In areas like Derry, the cuts proposed run contrary to expressed public policy from the Executive.

Many of these staff resent the devaluation of their work and the dislocation they now face – as well as the worry that they could be affected by deeper cuts in the future. I have written to Environment Minister Edwin Poots objecting to these proposals.

Trade Union Conference

After some constituency work visits this morning, at lunchtime I participated in a Fringe Debate at the City Hotel on the future of Public Services. It took place as part of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions NI Committee Conference taking place in Derry's City Hotel.

I outlined the SDLP's credible opposition to public services cuts here - matched by costed alternatives. With Northern Ireland now being targeted by the Tories for major cuts in our public services, the SDLP will be in Westminster to stand against cuts to frontline services and workers.

Cameron Cuts Worry

David Cameron’s comments on Friday night’s Jeremy Paxman interview should worry everyone who depends on public services and the many who work hard to deliver them.

The Conservative leader’s comments show that the North will be a target for his public expenditure cuts should he take office. Services in this region would be squeezed both directly and indirectly in the spending plans of a Tory government.

One of the challenges in the next Parliament will be the fight to defend frontline services overall and the North’s budget share in particular. People here need MPs who will stand up for them in that Parliament to defend vital services and protect social security benefits and pensions. MPs can’t really stand up for people on these issues when it counts, where it matters, if they never take their seat.

SDLP Manifesto Launch

Here is my contribution to the SDLP Manifesto launch this morning in Belfast. I set out some home truths about what other parties are promising to the electorate on 6th May.