WITH about a month to go before the European poll the first nominations are in. The deadline for registering your intention to standing for a seat in the European parliament is next Thursday.
Once that takes place, there will be the usual flurry of punditry. There hasn’t been an election in a couple of years, meaning that happy days and nights of speculation lie ahead.
With up to seven candidates expected to try their hand at getting the backing of the electorate, there will be much analysis of whether Sinn Féin can top the poll; will Jim Allister give the DUP a bloody electoral nose; will the new Tory/UUP alliance bring in new voters; will the SDLP begin to see the first green shoots of poll recovery…but most of all will anyone care.
Northern Ireland has, in the past, had one of the better turn-outs for the European election, when the green/orange split has played out at the polling booths.
Now that we have our beloved Assembly back in the saddle, will the electorate turn out in their droves? And will it effect the pundits ability to predict the unpredictable.
We here have only one prediction, one that we can make with much certainty. Acres of forest will tumble to keep up with the column inches of newspapers and the posters that are already starting to adorn every available telegraph pole, street light and tree.
Next week we’ll list all the runners, and have a go at seeing what odds the bookies are giving for each candidate.
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