How Many More Leaflets? Have Alliance lost it in Carrick?

I know many of you are asking yourselves, how many more leaflets? given the amount of Council and Assembly campaign material already received by post and by hand. The answer, who knows in the next few days!

However one leaflet really stood out for me, not I suspect for the reasons intended.

I received an Alliance Party postal Leaflet to my home in Carrick which made the following statement, "In East Antrim it's Alliance or Sein Fein -your choice". Now clearly the Alliance Party spelt Sinn Fein incorrectly, but that isn't the point.

Only a week before, East Antrim Alliance candidate Ms Mulvenna, made the following comment, "Alliance works with all parties to build consensus and the UUP would do well to follow Alliance's example instead of being negative on issues like who will be First Minister".

So which is it Geraldine Mulvenna, your press office or your leaflet writer, who speaks for Alliance in East Antrim?

Of course the reality in East Antrim could be much easier ascertained by any Alliance member if they chose to pop into the bookmakers beside their Carrick office.

The bookmakers, like the experts, predict Alliance one seat but with no chance of two, they give the DUP three seats with no chance of four, and they give the UUP one certain seat. In fact the sixth seat, according to the bookies and experts (I am reliably informed), is the only issue in East Antrim. That means the second Ulster Unionist, me in all probability, against Sinn Fein. The odds are 5/2 and 6/4.

So on the expert view bizarrely in East Antrim voting DUP 1-4 will help Sinn Fein and open up the prospect of a seat for Sinn Fein for the first time. The boundary changes have made this possible. Had the DUP ran 3 candidates the prospect of a Sinn Fein MLA for East Antrim would have remained much more remote. Voters would have transferred after the third candidate rather than after a fourth who will be well behind the race. Votes always go astray on transfers.

So just to be clear, the Alliance leaflet should have read, In East Antrim it is McCune or Sinn Fein -your choice. But I suppose Alliance don't want to tell voters that.

Monkstown Anti-Drugs Protest

I am always happy to support communities standing up against criminal elements operating within areas.

I admire the courage and determination of residents in Monkstown who turned up to protest on this occasion. I was and I am happy to show them my support. Tackling crime invoves galvanising community spirit and ensuring the policing response is properly co-ordinated and maintains community confidence.

Potential witnesses to crime must be reassured and protected from potential or actual intimidation. Working as a Barrister I have all too often seen at first hand cases collapse or turn on witness non-participation or non-co-operation, no doubt more often than not through fear.

I feel I have a contribution to make at Stormont to ensure witnesses within our criminal justice system are properly supported and protected.

Nomination......

It is one of the boxes to tick during any election campaign to "nominate". This involves having a number of people in your area sign your nomination papers. This sounds simple, and it is fair to say that it far from a complex exercise. But it does involve checking election registers etc to ensure that the persons who signed, and believed themselves to appear on the electoral register, actually are!

This cheery bunch are some of those who attended to show their support when I lodged my papers with the electoral office. Roy Beggs Jnr, my Party colleague and running mate in East Antrim lodged his papers at the same time.

Anyway, no doubt you will see some of this bunch at your door in the coming weeks asking you to support myself and Roy. Without change in the balance of Parties at Stormont, we will have the same people responsible for the shambles of the last four years, calling the shots in the next four years. That would not be good for you and it would not be good for Northern Ireland.

Police Constable Ronan Kerr

It is terribly sad that this week has ended with the callous murder of Police Constable Ronan Kerr. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. It reminds us all how some sections of Northern Ireland society, despite the obvious progress that has been made, still remains capable of the most inexpicable attitudes and most cruel crimes. Listening this evening to this young man's mother describe her pride in her son, and appeal to others not to be deterred from joining the police, was particularly moving.

Such a contrast to when I attended the football this week at Windsor, to see Northern Ireland play Slovenia. Whilst this in itself isn't usual, the warm affection from the crowd, to a man (and woman) for Celtic player Pat McCourt made a lasting impression on me. I had noticed this growing affection before, but this week it was taken to a new level. Don't get me wrong, the Northern Ireland team has always comprised of people from different backgrounds, and the fans have broadly been supportive of all who have played, but this felt a little bit different, it felt like a deliberate positive point was collectively being made. It felt like everyone wanted to send the message that no matter what background, no matter what club side, we are all working together.

Then we had Police Constable Kerr's murder on Saturday. We all know there have been many other fortunate "near misses" in recent months but when a life is lost it always feels completely different. On the radio I hear of talk of dialogue, on the radio I hear talk of negotiations, but all I want to hear is talk of prosecutions, and all I want is justice, for the family of Ronan Kerr and all those other police officers, who live and serve with themselves and their families under threat.

Seven days.......

It is often said (too often!) that seven days is a long time in politics, and I have had a very interesting and eventful week. I took in a hockey match between Greenisland and Carrick, witnessed a Greenisland win largely down to one star player in a fashion reminiscent of Diego Maradonna and Argentina at the 1986 World Cup. It is rare to watch a team sport and be able to say that with confidence that if one player changed sides the outcome would change completely.

I also was able to support Carrickfergus Farmers Market at the weekend. Fantastic event and a wonderful turnout. With the right support and vision we can breath life back into our town centers. It is such a shame that our outgoing Council failed to really get behind this event. Let's hope many of the outgoing Councillors dont come back, we have had enough of those who display negativity and a lack of vision.

I even made the Teenage Cancer Trust event on Sunday night enjoying Tinie Tempah and Jessie J in full flow.

Yet despite all this, and a bit of canvassing too! The most important event of the last seven days was the Chancellor's Budget. He continues to send the message out that the UK is a place where companies can do business and this is to his credit. The penny of petrol isn't the real story on fuel, the suspension of already set down real-term increases in fuel duty for the life of the next Parliament is. I was delighted to see the number of measures introduced to support start-ups and therefore business and job creation. These may not ease our short-term pain but they will lay solid foundations for our longer-term prosperity.

In fact George pinched our idea of reduced rents for new businesses that I blogged on some weeks ago, albeit my suggestion was not to be funded from the public purse. It is hard to say it is a great budget, but it definitely isn't a bad one!

You know, pro-enterrpise fiscal policies may just result in a pro-enterprise UK!

The "Billy no Mates" of the Arab World

I read today a desciption of Muammar Gaddafi as the "billy no mates" of the Arab world and it is certainly true that had it not been for the support of Arab countries, the current intervention in Libya by our country and others would not be taking place. I congratulate David Cameron and William Hague on this one, their efforts were central to bringing about a proper UN Resolution as well as International willing for action. Now our brave airmen and airwomen are in flight supported by their colleagues, I wish them all well for a safe return.

Nobody has mentioned Libya on the doorstep when I have been out talking to people, I didn't expect them to. However, many people have mentioned rocketing fuel prices, something I certainly did expect. The two issues are clearly related. Instability in Libya caused the recent spike in oil prices. Despite the fact that the Saudis increased their oil production in response to the instability, prices still spiked due to the uncertainty in the market.

For me the solution is simple, we must reduce our dependency on oil. If a similar crisis had developed in say Saudi Arabia, the spike in oil prices would have been such as to perforate our economy and destroy any recovery. The nuclear alternative is fraught with danger. The tragedy of Japan serves as a real warning to all those who see nuclear power as a solution to oil dependency.

This brings me to renewable sources of energy, I support investing in and developing renewables. May I make it quite clear, not in the ad hoc manner of random individual applications for wind turbines, but in a clearly organised and structured fashion. No longer, should aesthetics be raised as an objection to renewables, when it is at the expense of greater economic independence and greater economic stability. Energy is one important area, in which, I believe we in Northern Ireland, could take the lead for the UK and lay solid foundations for our future.

Whitehead and Rain!

I don't mind the rain, and I certainly didn't mind the occasional rain it Whitehead on Saturday. It was nice to see some very familiar faces, and it was nice to make some new acquaintances too!

It was clear to me talking to people in Whitehead that they feel ignored and neglected. Ignored and neglected by politicians who look to Larne and look to Carrick but look past Whitehead. I don't think I could ever imagine looking past Whitehead.

The issues haven't changed since last year because they haven't been addressed, whether it be the quality of the roads, broken bottles left by late night drinkers or the complete lack of policing. I know the issues, and if the opportunity to speak on behalf of East Antrim comes my way, I will address them.

Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their day to share their thoughts with me and my team. It is always very much appreciated. If we are to do the job you deserve in the future, communication is essential and we are always keen to listen!