Campaign launch: Radical political groupings would be strengthened by the European Parliament election, Socialist Environment Alliance candidate Mr Eamon McCann predicted yesterday.
The journalist launched his manifesto in Belfast yesterday. He said that, irrespective of the election result, he was sure the electorate would be aware there was an alternative to "choosing chieftains for local tribes.
"At the very least, we will come out of this campaign with a more solid base for cross-community, radical, progressive, global politics to be built on in Northern Ireland," said Mr McCann.
The main thrust of his campaign was a rejection of the idea that the issues which are convulsing the world have nothing to do with politics in the North, he continued. "Our call for a withdrawal from Iraq isn't just an opinion we have when the question comes up. It's our number one issue," he said.
"The implication would be, if Iraq does not figure in Northern Ireland, that we are a petty and provincial people. I think we are bigger and better than the mainstream politicians give us credit for."
Mr McCann said he was opposed to paramilitarism because it was subjugating working-class communities.
"Paramilitaries now operate as another police force and young people in trouble in the poorest areas can end up getting both a punishment beating and a jail sentence," he said.
