McFarland takes over from Dunlop: Alliance Party

The North Antrim Association of the Alliance Party has announced that Stephen McFarland will take over from the Party's long serving stalwart Jayne Dunlop as their candidate for the upcoming Assembly election in May.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Mar 2016, 15:42 BST
Updated 23rd Mar 2016, 15:52 BST
The North Antrim Association of the Alliance Party has announced that Stephen McFarland will take over from the Partys long serving stalwart Jayne Dunlop as their candidate for the upcoming Assembly election in May. inbm14-16sThe North Antrim Association of the Alliance Party has announced that Stephen McFarland will take over from the Partys long serving stalwart Jayne Dunlop as their candidate for the upcoming Assembly election in May. inbm14-16s
The North Antrim Association of the Alliance Party has announced that Stephen McFarland will take over from the Partys long serving stalwart Jayne Dunlop as their candidate for the upcoming Assembly election in May. inbm14-16s

Stephen McFarland (26) from Ballymoney, has been active in the Alliance Party and Alliance Youth since 2010 and was the Party’s candidate for the Ballymoney in the 2014 Council elections.

Stephen says: “I am delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to represent the party in this election. North Antrim will continue to face uphill challenges in the next Assembly, which is why I am stepping forward to help bring about a progressive voice leading change across the constituency. The devolved institutions are now eighteen years old, but don’t seem to be showing any sign of maturity. We need to end “in-out” politics along with its continual indecision and deadlock.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Alliance has a strong track record of getting the job done in the last Assembly, with resorting to self-serving co-options or defections. North Antrim is a largely rural constituency and I want to lead the way in the next Assembly to see improvements in key transport corridors and public transport, relief for our hard-working farming community and support for our new and establish businesses. I will also be working to ensure that Northern Ireland remains within the EU accessing the world’s largest single market.”

Joining Stephen will be Danny Donnelly and Stewart Dickson MLA in East Antrim, Party Leader David Ford MLA in South Antrim, former Coleraine Councillor Yvonne Boyle in East Londonderry, and Néidín Hendron in Mid Ulster.