Alliance confirm candidates for Newry & Armagh and South Down constituencies

It’s been quite a week for Ms Young – on Thursday it was announced that the Newry woman would replace Andrew McMurray as a councillor for the Slieve Croob DEA on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Mr McMurray, meanwhile, has been chosen to be the party’s candidate in South Down, just weeks after his appointment as the party’s MLA for the constituency.

He said: “It is a great honour to be selected to stand for Alliance in South Down. For too long the Conservative Government in Westminster has not given adequate or due care to Northern Ireland and South Down in particular.”

"Alliance has gone from strength to strength in South Down, increasing our vote share at all levels of government over the last number of years. This has been a direct result of our hard on the ground delivering for everyone across South Down.

“It was disappointing, but not surprising, to see the DUP and Sinn Féin framing this election as an ‘opportunity to strengthen the Union’ and about it being a ‘Case for Unity’. However, this election should be about amplifying our representation in Westminster to champion our schools, our health system, our businesses & industries, our environment and our planet but for the last seven years, our voice has gone unheard.

"That’s why I am standing in the General Election, to give the people of South Down a positive, progressive voice in Parliament. This election is an opportunity to vote for a candidate who will stand up and fight for everyone in South Down."