The TUV has announced that Jordan Doran will contest West Belfast and Andrew Girvin South Belfast for the party in next year’s Assembly elections.
Jordan Doran has lived in Ballysillan most of his life and was educated at Cavehill Primary School and the Boys’ Model. He is an active member of Cavehill LOL 1956, involved with the BB at Eglington Presbyterian and volunteers in various community projects in the Westlands.
Speaking about his decision to put his name forward Jordan said:
“I am delighted to announce my candidacy in West Belfast for the TUV.
“The people of West Belfast have suffered tremendously during and since the Troubles. What’s more, unionist politicians have failed their electors – failed on social housing, failed to protect our culture and traditions and failed to guarantee our constitutional right, something which has been starkly illustrated by the undemocratic Protocol.
“While I have heard many times the complaint, “Young people are uninterested in politics” TUV have inspired me to step into the political arena and offer the people of West Belfast Traditional Unionist representation at Stormont.
“Other Unionist parties will have you believe that by voting TUV you will split the Unionist vote and hand Sinn Fein a victory. This is simply untrue. With the voting system we use in Northern Ireland you can not split the vote. Indeed, statistics show that the more Unionist candidates there are, the higher the unionist turnout. As long as Unionists use their transfers, we can win the 5th crucial seat in West Belfast.
“Furthermore, in TUV you have the only Unionist party prepared to guarantee that we will not provide a stooge deputy to a Sinn Fein First Minister thus preventing Republicans from taking the post.
“As a proud Unionist, I am horrified by the continued pandering to Sinn Fein by our unionist politicians. This is why I am offering the people of West Belfast a principled Unionist on their ballot paper, someone who:
– Will fight for Ulster and its place within the Union;
– Will support residents in their right for fair social housing and
– Will not bow to the overfunded Irish Language sector.
“In closing, I would like to recognise the support and encouragement I have received from friends, family and party colleagues. I am keen to bring my experience from the Westland Community and Residents’ Association and as Chair of Northumbria Students’ Union, the university where I am close to completing a degree in Business and Management, to Stormont and prove that young people can have a voice in politics”.
South Belfast candidate Andrew Girvin is married to Nicola and a father of four children. The family were registered foster carers and hope to return to that in the near future.
His faith is important to him and Andrew is a past cross community youth worker with YMCA and churches within the South Belfast areas.
Commenting on his decision to stand for TUV Andrew said:
“I have been self employed for many years and have a background in business development across South and East Belfast. I hope to bring that real life experience to Stormont and fight for a better deal for those seeking to do their best for the local economy and their families.
“The number of vacant shops and derelict buildings in parts of South Belfast, while rates remain high, is testament to the fact that there is a lack of imagination when it comes to encouraging entrepreneurs to set up shop.
“Quite frankly parts of our city are embarrassing when one considers that in days gone by people had the attraction of bright lights and shopping. I refuse to accept that nothing can be done to reverse the trend in declining high street shopping in Belfast.
“I am also passionate about challenging the social housing situation within certain areas of South Belfast after years of neglect. Many areas have been blighted by the inaction of political parties who have had decades in office but done little to devilver anything of substance for ordinary folk. Many vacant building plots have been left untouched for years while people are in great need of housing.
“With anti-social activity on the rise within certain areas of South Belfast, particularly in the Holy Lands, it’s clear that action is long overdue. The Groundhog Day experience seems to be a yearly issue with different groups blaming each other – landlords, Queen’s, students, etc – and the PSNI simply are not doing enough. The blame game is not good enough and answers to the ongoing anti-social behaviour issues need found, rather than dancing around the problems.”
Party leader Jim Allister said:
“These two candidates offer an unwavering commitment to traditional unionism and a real alternative to the disappointing representation experienced to date. I believe there is a desire for change and Unionism which put aggressive republicanism on the defensive.
“I am pleased to be able to offer the people of South and West Belfast candidates of the calibre of Andrew and Jordan and look forward to joining them on the campaign trail”.