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.