Westminster '97
NEWRY/ARMAGH CANDIDATE PAT McNAMEE
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A member of Sinn Fein's Newry/Armagh Hospital committee, he is currently campaigning against health cuts and the danger of the closure of Daisy Hill Hospital.
Pat is also an active member of the Bessbrook Against Drugs Committee fighting the effects of drug abuse in the area and proactive in attempts to establish a Drugs Education Programme For Young people.
Pat has been politically active since his teens and was elected as one of Sinn Fein's peace negotiators in the May 1996 elections in the Six-Counties.
CONSTITUENCY PROFILE
Newry/Armagh
| Party | 1992 | 1996 |
| SDLP | 26,073 | 16,775 |
| SF | 6,547 | 12,585 |
| UUP | 18,982 | 11,047 |
Newry/Armagh is a constituency that survived the Boundary Commission's knife last time around much to the relief of SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon. It is also another constituency where Sinn Fein made massive gains in 1996. However making a direct comparison between Westminster elections and last May's Forum outing is ignoring the prospect of tactical voting to ensure a nationalist victory. Maximising the SF vote here has occupied the minds of the party's electoral boffins and they have run a very confident campaign.