Westminster '97
MID-ULSTER CANDIDATE MARTIN McGUINNESS
Sinn Fein's
Chief Negotiator
 |
He became involved in the Civil Rights Movement in Derry after October 5th, 1968 and joined Sinn Fein in 1970. Since Martin was elected to the Ard Comhairle (National Executive) of Sinn Fein, he has played a major role in promoting and supporting the strategy of the current peace process. He was a leading representative in the 1972 talks with the then British Secretary of State, William Whitelaw, in London.
Martin married his wife Bernie in 1974. They have four children, two girls and two boys.
In 1982 Martin McGuinness was elected to the short-lived Stormont assembly. Later that year he was excluded from entering Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Martin McGuinness is Sinn Fein's Chief Negotiator. He led our party's delegation which, following the IRA cessation of 31st. August 1994, met with the British Minister, Michael Ancram, on several occasions at Stormont. Prior to that he represented Sinn Fein in protracted secret contact and negotiations with representatives of the British government from 1990 until 1993. All of these meetings are documented in the Sinn Fein booklet ``Setting the Record Straight''.
He also met in private meetings with Patrick Mayhew as part of Sinn Fein's attempts to persuade the British government to move beyond the impasse which had been created by its refusal to move towards all-party peace negotiations.
Martin, along with Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, had private discussions with President Bill Clinton during the American President's visit to Belfast in 1995. He has also represented the Party in high level discussions with political leaders in Europe as well as America. Martin was also a member of Sinn Fein's delegation to the Dublin Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
Martin Mc Guinness was elected as a Sinn Fein Negotiator in the Forum elections in May 1996, when he and Party Chairperson, Mitchel McLaughlin, increased Sinn Fein's vote by 50% in the Foyle constitutency.
Martin has been selected to contest the Mid-Ulster constituency in the forthcoming Westminster general election. A natural republican constituency, the seat is presently held by the DUP's William Mc Crea.
CONSTITUENCY PROFILE
Mid Ulster
| Party | 1992 | 1996 |
| SF | 10,248 | 13,001 |
| SDLP | 16,994 | 12,492 |
| DUP | 23,181 | 7,243 |
Mid Ulster is a historic constituency for republicans and radical nationalists who have won this seat in 1955 (twice), 1969 and 1970. Danny Morrison lost by 78 votes to the singing Willie in 1983 who has held the seat since. Sinn Fein topped the poll in 1996 and are set with Martin McGuinness to present the strongest possible challenge to the the DUP this time around. The Sinn Fein strategy of appealing to the uncommitted nationalist voters and SDLP floaters could deliver this seat back to the nationalist people of Mid Ulster.