Mid Ulster by-election
Sinn Féin veteran Francie Molloy wins a low key contest.
The Mid Ulster by-election contest (held on 7 March) had the potential to be bitter and emotive but it was ultimately low key. The race was initially dominated by the allegations that Sinn Féin’s Francie Molloy was involved in the murder of unionist candidate Nigel Lutton’s father, Eric. Molloy strenuously denies the claims which were made under parliamentary privilege by Upper Bann MP David Simpson, a cousin of Eric Lutton.
However, neither candidate sought a high level of media attention. Nigel Lutton’s campaign was carefully controlled with only two press interviews, with the Mid Ulster Mail and Portadown Times, and a web chat with the News Letter. Molloy and Lutton declined to take part in BBC Northern Ireland’s televised debate.
Molloy said that he would only participate in a debate with all four candidates. Lutton’s campaign team claimed that he needed to balance his canvassing with his work as an undertaker in Portadown.
Martin McGuinness, the MP since 1997, vacated his seat on 2 January. Francie Molloy had been selected, in advance, as Sinn Féin’s candidate on 12 December. The SDLP chose Patsy McGlone on
24 January. Lutton was selected by the local UUP and DUP associations on
14 February, and was also endorsed by the TUV and the local loyal orders. Alliance selected Eric Bullick on the following day.
Single unionist candidates have frequently contested elections west of the Bann. Rodney Connor came within four votes of unseating Michelle Gildernew in 2010. Rev William McCrea held the old Mid Ulster seat between 1983 and 1997 as the UUP stood aside.
Molloy, a 62-year old former welder, was a councillor on Dungannon Borough Council between 1985 and 2011 and has sat in the Assembly since 1998. He will now relinquish his seat at Stormont.
The unionist poll decreased from 13,380 at the last general election to 12,781. This was still a relatively good performance, considering the lower turnout, and the percentage poll increased from 32.5 per cent to 34.4 per cent. However, unionism’s long-term trend in Mid-Ulster is downward. William McCrea polled 18,411 votes back in 1997.
The SDLP experienced a slight rise in support, up to 6,478 from 6,279 in the last Assembly election and 5,826 in the general election. McGlone was also the only candidate to live in the constituency. Lutton lives in Upper Bann, Molloy in Newry and Armagh, and Bullick in West Tyrone.
Alliance’s poll also increased from 398 to 487: the party’s best local result since the 1998 Assembly election.
As an abstentionist MP, Molloy cannot take part in the proceedings of the House of Commons or receive a salary but he can use its facilities and claim expenses. He will also have the freedom to lobby the UK Government on non-devolved matters such as immigration.
Agriculture is likely to be a high priority. Molloy is a “hobby farmer” and his colleague, Michelle O’Neill, is Agriculture and Rural Development Minister.
“Martin will be a hard act to follow,” he said at the count. “I understand that, but we will try our best to do that, we will continue to build the [peace] process [from] within it and work with everyone.”
Turnout was 55.7 per cent, down from 63.7 per cent at the general election and 223 spoilt ballots were counted, down from 297 in 2010.
