THE 11 candidates which the Independent McMullan group is fielding for the May 30th elections are a "motley crew", says the poet, James Simmons, who is running in East Antrim.
But for all its disparateness, the group headed by Oliver McMullan, a publican from Cushendall in the Glens of Antrim, has a unified policy that demands all party inclusive talks and an Irish dimension to a new settlement.
Adopting the language of the New Ireland Group, they challenge sectarian opinions and practices in any part of Ireland and seek an "evolution towards a New Ireland".
The IRA should call a ceasefire but Sinn Fein should be at talks, even without an IRA ceasefire, they believe.
Mr McMullan said at a press conference yesterday his broad coalition of candidates was getting a positive response and might shock the mainstream politicians with their election showing.
The radical Presbyterian and Ballymoney surgeon, John Robb, the New Ireland spokesman, is Mr McMullan's running mate in North Antrim. They are contrasting studies.
Mr Robb, a former Seanad member, is loquacious and philosophical in selling the group's position. As a youngster he was reared under the "culture of empire". He said: "I think too many unionists are "living in the past. They are unable to get rid of the burden of the imperial attitude, which is a top dog attitude."
Mr McMullan is crisp and practical. Talks and jobs are the key to progress and a settlement, he stated bluntly.
Mr Simmons is the inspirational poet in the project but Mr Robb has contributed some verse to his own and Mr McMullan's election literature. "McMullan and Robb/Will do a good job/Be sure to take note/To give them your vote".
Mr Simmons, who runs the Poets' House literary education centre at Islandmagee, near Larne, offered no opinion on Mr Robb's lines. "I felt frustrated about the nature of politics here, and wondered what I could do. So when I was asked to get involved with the group I felt I had to say yes," he explained.
Mr Simmons, who has been getting a rough time from some unionists on Larne Council who object to his earthier poetry, was also impressed by the cross religious nature of the group. It seemed to indicate a reawakening of the radical and liberal Protestant tradition working with an equally broadminded Catholic tradition.
He was further impressed by independent nationalist Larne councillor, William Gunning, who is candidate with the poet in East Antrim. "He was one of the few councillors who stood up for me on Larny Council during a planning application I had made for The Poets' House".
Mr Gunning explained: "The nature of James's poetry, which some members objected to, was raised during the planning application, and that was totally out of order. I think if some of the councillors got out into the world and opened their minds a bit more they would broaden themselves."
Mr Gunning, a Catholic and the only nationalist on the council, has also been influenced by the radical Protestant tradition. He became an independent councillor following the 1980 UDA murder of Protestant and nationalist councillor John Turnly.
Mr Gunning and his family, who live near Carnlough, have been targeted a number of times by loyalist paramilitaries. His son in law, Cormac McDermott was murdered in Ballymena two years ago in front of his wife and three year old daughter.
"People have to talk - that's what I have learned in Northern Ireland politics," said Mr Gunning.
