NUMBER ONE…John Coyle is looking to take a seat in Westminster
THE SDLP’s candidate for the Westminster elections in May this year has claimed that Fermanagh is being ‘under-represented’ by current MP Michelle Gildernew.
John Coyle, 29, and from Belleek is an Erne North councillor having been elected back in May of 2014 – and on Sunday night was endorsed by his party to stand for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat in Westminster.
Councillor Coyle said, on his decision to stand: “What my thinking is that we’re being under- represented in Fermanagh South Tyrone. We have an MP that doesn’t take the seat in Westminster.”
Prior to this announcement, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness had called for an election pact, asking the SDLP to stand down in the area to help secure the seat for what he described as a ‘pro agreement’ candidate.
But, Cllr Coyle dismissed talk of a pact with Sinn Fein and said that he can get the votes on his ‘own merit’.
“We have been very vocal, our leader has been vocal about pacts – we will not enter into them. We are the SDLP, we’re the Social Democratic and Labour Party. We give our voters their right to vote. I hope that they put their trust in me as their candidate because I will do my utmost as their candidate for Fermanagh South Tyrone.
“Pacts do not benefit anybody. It’s not going to benefit Fermanagh South Tyrone in any way – what’s Martin McGuinness suggesting? That I stand down and let Michelle run unopposed?”
When asked if he was concerned at coming up against experienced politicians like Michelle Gildernew and the UUP’s Tom Elliott, Cllr Coyle said that he ‘would not be worried’.
“I would stand on my own merit. When I was going knocking on doors people felt engaged with a young person coming to the door – fresh face, fresh politics.
“I hope that I can get votes from both sides – nationalist and unionist. I am not a sectarian person. I take everybody, it doesn’t matter what nationality, creed or religion or whatever – I am here to help everybody. I will represent everybody to the best of my ability.”
“My belief is I will win. If I’m not positive, why should I go and ask anyone for their vote?”
On his role, if elected, Cllr Coyle explained: “We are a rural farming county, I would fight for the benefit of rural dwellers and farmers – to make their lives better.
“Taking a seat in Westminster can have an impact. You can be in touch with the people in Westminster and say – we need jobs. And tackle the people to get money for infrastructure so that large companies can come in to Fermanagh and provide work.”
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