First Past the Post by Joe McVeigh

The first past the post electoral system here is unfair and undemocratic. It was introduced to placate unionists who feared that their majority would be wiped out by the PR system of electing representatives to Westminster. It has most often worked in their favour in Westminster elections and it does not fairly represent the voters in each constituency. The overall result is usually favourable to unionists whose population has been steadily declining. In the 2015 election Unionists(including Sylvia Hermon) won 11 seats and Nationalists/republicans won 7 seats(4 SF and 3 SDLP). With the population approaching 50/50 this is an unfair representation. In the forthcoming election Nationalists /republicans had a chance to increase their representation by engaging in some kind of agreement in a number of constituencies. They might have been fairly sure of winning 2 extra seats –making the result more representative of the overall electorate.

The SDLP are now fielding candidates in Fermanagh/South Tyrone and North Belfast. They have not a chance of winning the seat in either constituency. They are entitled to stand but if their only reason is to stop Sinn Fein from winning the seats it is hardly honourable. It would seem that they would prefer a unionist/Brexiteer to win rather than a republican/anti-brexit candidate who could win both these seats if the SDLP stood aside. Donal Lavery has said it all about North Belfast in a previous blog. Regarding Fermanagh/South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew was beaten the last time by Unionist Tom Elliott about 500 votes. Surely she would have had a real chance this time of unseating the pro-Brexit man if she was given a clear run. However, the SDLP has decided to run. There are people in the SDLP who would not vote for SF. That is their choice. But there would be some who would see the benefit of backing a candidate who could win and show that our constituency is still opposed to leaving the EU. It would also reinforce the argument for holding a border poll.

Since John Hume’s retirement, the SDLP has lost its way.  Colin McGrath from South Down SDLP was on UTV the other night and spoke about getting the best deal for ‘northern ireland’ at least ten times in less than one minute. Mr Robinson of the DUP just about beat him by mentioning ‘northern ireland’ about 15 times in one minute. What is wrong with these younger SDLP people? Do they lose the run of themselves when they get on TV? What is wrong with the SDLP? Seamus Mallon always called the place ‘the north of Ireland’ but nowadays the SDLP spokespeople refer to ‘northern ireland’. To keep repeating ‘northern ireland’ only reinforces the notion that this is a legal entity. It is tantamount to recognising its legitimacy as a state or statelet. It has no such legitimacy-never had and never will. The sooner we have a more democratic system of electing and governing the better for all.