Sinn Fein is ready for Westminster challenge

Mr O’Dowd commented: “Sinn Fin is not entering this election contest to simply consolidate our vote or maintain our position as the leading nationalist party.

“We are in this contest to seriously challenge for the seat and if we build on our performance at the Assembly election where Sinn Fin topped the poll we will be celebrating a victory. But such a result won’t be achieved without hard work.

“The electors will decide who wins and we have to convince them to go out and cast their vote.”

Councillor Johnny McGibbon who has been appointed as Mr O’Dowd’s election agent said: “Recent polls have put Sinn Fin a mere three per cent behind the leading unionist party and this presents us with a real opportunity.

“When you consider that other nationalist parties took 13% of the vote at the last Assembly Election and almost 40% of the nationalist population didn’t even go out to vote at that same election then we are serious challengers.

“We have a job in hand to go out and persuade the electorate to use their vote and use it wisely by voting Sinn Fin.”