Compare my record to SF's: Durkan
Foyle MP Mark Durkan has accused Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson of kicking-off her Westminster election campaign on a "negative note."
Last week, after her nomination as the party's Foyle candidate was ratified by the party, Ms. Anderson questioned the SDLP's role in the regeneration of Derry, accusing Mark Durkan of failing to make any progress.
In response, Mr. Durkan says he would "rather discuss the issues in a responsible way than have to respond to disingenuous spin and simple old fashioned false claims."
He added: "First of all she made claims which are untrue - and she knows that. Not only is it untrue to say that, as a Minister, I failed to make progress on Derry's regeneration, the facts are that I delivered the Ebrington and Fort George sites at no cost from the MoD and Treasury for the city – the same sites Martin McGuinness and Martina Anderson are now happy to have their photos taken on.
"The fact is that I secured the Integrated Development Fund which remains the single most effective action taken to stimulate the Derry economy – delivering the Skeoge Business Park, the Walled City Tourism Project, the Robotics Centre at Magee, the Public Realm scheme, the C-TRIC Research Centre at Altnagelvin, the Faughan Valley Park scheme and the Nerve Centre expansion project. The SDLP conceived and drove forward this Fund. In contrast, Sinn Fin decided with the DUP to abolish it in 2008. It is frankly incredible with that track record of non-delivery that Sinn Fein would attack anyone."
Mr. Durkan says the people of Derry can compare his "consistent track record" on economic regeneration to Sinn Fein's record of "supporting its violent degradation."
He added: "When Sinn Fin ministers dithered and dathered, it was my party colleague Margaret Ritchie's intervention at my request that unblocked the bureaucracy that threatened the Peace Bridge project that is now underway. Again, Sinn Fein was happy to turn up for the photos late in the day.
"Astonishingly, Martina claims that I barred any investment in the North West's railways. People can go online and read the Assembly debate of 8th April, 2008 about the Derry rail line to find out the facts. I actually approved 80 million as Finance Minister for 23 new trains on condition that they be for the Derry line equally to elsewhere! Far from barring investment, I was the first politician in a generation to actually invest into our rail link. Sinn Fein to date have delivered little for rail users apart from make-believe announcements and fumbling on timetables.
"Her claim that we allowed vetos to David Trimble on the devolution of policing when Sinn Fein were actively discouraging co-operation with the police even on serious crime says it all. For a party that have given the DUP veto after veto – including the infamous 'triple lock' on the devolution of justice – the hypocrisy is breathtaking.
"The facts are that this election is about two things. It is about deciding if we want an MP who will do more than use a title to issue press releases and rather use the seat to deliver the sort of change which I secured for the Desmonds pensioners and local credit unions. It is also a referendum on the Sinn Fein/DUP axis which has clung hard to power at Stormont for almost three years and delivered nothing more than direct rule with Northern accents. That is the real choice facing voters in Foyle."
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Weather for Derry
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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