Belfast News: Lord Browne MLA Quits Double Jobbing

With the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections looming, the DUP is the first of our political parties to launch their election campaign, fielding 44 candidates across the province.

Noticeably absence from some press reports covering the launch, was any focus on the departure of Lord Wallace Browne, East Belfast MLA. The DUP website itself made little reference to the departing Lord, indicating in their list of candidates for East Belfast, that Sammy Douglas was now their third candidate for the constituency.

Given the way this matter was reported we asked Lord Wallace Browne of the DUP: 'As your party has not published your details as a candidate for the East Belfast Constituency does this mean that you will now commit your time to the Lords?

Lord Browne could not respond in person due to Assembly Business but his party colleague wrote to us, indicating that he had been authorised to reply on his behalf as follows: 

It is correct that Lord Browne has decided that he will not seek re-election at either the forthcoming Council or Assembly elections. He has taken this decision so that he can devote more time to representing Northern Ireland's interests in the House of Lords, in line with the party's commitment to the ending of "double-jobbing". 

We further put to Lord Browne that: 'There is speculation that your departure is less to do with the party's double jobbing commitment and more to do with tight vote management in order to secure the return of Peter Robinson in the Belfast East constituency, do you believe this is the case?'

Lord Browne's colleague responded: 'Lord Browne is not aware of any such speculation. However, if there were such speculation, it is inaccurate. The decision to not seek re-election was made by Lord Browne alone, for the reason stated above. Peter has indicated that he would have preferred Lord Browne to run in the election, but that he understands and supports Lord Browne's reasons for not standing.'

Their response continued: 'Lord Browne believes that the DUP will return all 3 candidates in the forthcoming Assembly election in East Belfast, and all of our candidates for the Belfast Council election. He believes that the addition of Sammy Douglas as his replacement in the Assembly election, and myself as his replacement in the council election, will help us to retain our present seats.' 

Editorial

We are grateful to Lord Browne, his colleague and the DUP for their response to our questions. However, should the East Belfast vote remain the same as that of the General Election, come the 2011 NI Assembly Elections, then it would appear, the two most vulnerable seats in the constituency of East Belfast, are either one held by the DUP or the seat held by Dawn Purvis. The decision by the DUP to field Sammy Douglas instead of Lord Wallace Browne in the East, is bound to cause speculation, not least because of their General Election defeat in this constituency and the 'fact' that the vote will have to be tightly managed.

Given the 'party's commitment to the ending of double-jobbing', it appears strange that party leader and First Minister Peter Robinson 'has indicated that he would have preferred Lord Browne to run in the election'.

Whatever, your view, come the 5th May 2011, the East Belfast constituency is the one to watch!

Last Updated: 4th March 2011