Election 2023: Derry and Strabane Council: DUP concern on unionist minority amid scepticism of main parties

In the last council election there was a significant shift away from Sinn Fein, which lost five seats, and the DUP, which lost one.

This was accompanied by a move towards People Before Profit and Alliance, which both picked up two seats, and Aontú which gained one.

The SDLP and UUP vote also shrank slightly, but the SDLP still managed to pick up another seat while the UUP held onto their two. Since then the DUP has lost Ryan McCready to the UUP, and former mayor Graham Warke, who went independent.

There is a consensus that voters are disillusioned with the main parties, feeling they have let them down in terms of health, education and surging rates bills.

However, DUP candidate Julie Middleton’s key message is that unionism is a minority in the area. "In this council we cannot afford splitting the vote across a spectrum of unionists or it will be music to the ears of our non unionist opponents,” she said.

“Sinn Fein and the SDLP run this Council and chase a series of pet projects. It’s time for the core services to be funded and enough of the pet projects. Working families want value for their rates.”

Based on a strong turnout for unionist parties in Foyle in the assembly election last year, UUP candidate Ryan McCready hopes there could therefore be a substantial increase in the unionist vote.

On the issue of the exodus from the major parties, he says: "Evidently, when big parties don't deliver, regardless of whether it's Sinn Fein or the DUP, people are going to go somewhere else."

On the doors he says the overwhelming message is for MLAs to "get back to work". People are angered by cuts to their health care, Special Educational Needs, mental health provisions in schools, losses of rural transport and surging rates bills, he says.

Alliance Councillor Rachael Ferguson said locals are struggling with childcare/household bills and hospital waiting lists, as well as the lack of an Executive. "They are also fed up with orange and green politics,” she said.

People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said the main parties "have a consistent record" of voting through Tory cuts. He claims Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Alliance and DUP hiked rates 8% and slashed services by £3.5m.

Aontú said Sinn Fein is under pressure because Stormont is not delivering in terms of university development, the A5 route and inward investment. It also says many people reject Sinn Fein and the SDLP’s trans policies.

The candidates are:

WATERSIDE

Chelsea Cooke (DUP)

Caitlin Deeney (SF)

Darren Guy (UUP)

Christopher Jackson (SF)

Philip McKinney (All)

Niree McMorris (DUP)

Janice Montgomery (UUP)

Sean Mooney (SDLP)

Davina Pulis (PBP)

Martin Reilly (SDLP)

BALLYARNETT

Colm Cavanagh (All)

Damien Doherty (PBP)

Emmet Doyle (Aontú)

Sandra Duffy (SF)

Rory Farrell (SDLP)

Catherine McDaid (SDLP)

John McGowan (SF)

Patrick Murphy (SF)

Brian Tierney (SDLP)

DERG

Caroline Devine (SF)

Steven Edwards (SDLP)

Leza Marie Houston (Aontú)

Derek Hussey (UUP)

Keith Kerrigan (DUP)

Adam McGinley (PBP)

Ruairí McHugh (SF)

Anne Murray (All)

Antaine Ó Fearghail (SF)

Andy Patton (Ind)

FAUGHAN

Hayley Canning (SDLP)

Alex Duffy (SF)

Rachael Ferguson (All)

Sean Fleming (SF)

Damian Gallagher (PBP)

Ryan McCready (UUP)

Julie Middleton (DUP)

Declan Norris (SDLP)

Graham Warke (Ind)

Gary Wilkinson (DUP)

FOYLESIDE

Lilian Seenoi Barr (SDLP)

Shauna Cusack (SDLP)

Shaun Harkin (PBP)

Conor Heaney (SF)

Seán Mac Cearáin (Aontú)

Stephen McCallion (SDLP)

Danny McCloskey (All)

Grace Uí Niallais (SF)

SPERRIN

Jason Barr (SDLP)

Raymond Barr (Ind)

Paul Boggs (SF)

Mel Boyle (All)

Allan Bresland (DUP)

Maurice Devenney (DUP)

Tommy Forbes (SDLP)

Carol Gallagher (PBP)

Paul Gallagher (Ind)

Brian Harte (SF)

Patsy Kelly (Ind)

Fergal Leonard (SF)

Darán Mac Meanman (Aontú)

Glen Miller (UUP)

THE MOOR

John Boyle (SDLP)

Darryl Christy (Aontú)

Gary Donnelly (Ind)

Michael Downey (All)

Dermott Henderson (SDLP)

Aisling Hutton (SF)

Patricia Logue (SF)

Emma McGinley (SF)

Maeve O'Neill (PBP)