The leader of the UK Unionist party, Mr Robert McCartney, has announced his intention to stand as a candidate for the European elections in the North to be held on June 10th.
Submitting his election papers at the electoral office in Belfast yesterday, Mr McCartney, who opposes the Belfast Agreement, said the pro-union community must be provided with a choice when they vote in the poll, which will return three members representing the North to the European Parliament. Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist party also submitted his election papers yesterday and the deadline for entering the race closed later in the day. Mr McCartney said his main concern was that those who value the union are motivated to come out next month and vote for a candidate who can make a difference.
"By offering myself to the electorate, I wish to appeal across party boundaries to all who support democracy, the forces of law and order, and who seek effective representation in the European Parliament.
"When prime ministers dishonour their written pledges and parties abandon their manifestos, people should support those who have held firm to their principles and whom they are certain they can trust," he added.
The decision by Mr McCartney to run was criticised by the North's First Minister and leader of the Ulster Unionists, Mr David Trimble, who said the move threatened to split the unionist vote, with the risk of Sinn Fein securing the third seat.
"Mr McCartney's candidature is not simply an ego trip. Worse, it is a recklessly selfish act of electoral brinkmanship. I believe his decision will shock the unionist community," he said.
Mr John Hume was in a buoyant mood as he embarked on the Euro election campaign trail yesterday accompanied by SDLP Assembly member Ms Brid Rodgers. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and Member of the European Parliament visited Portadown, Craigavon, Lurgan and Banbridge.
Amid speculation of a deal being brokered in the Drumcree crisis, Mr Hume spoke about the problem, saying he "like the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland" wanted to see this matter settled.
"The best way of doing this is by direct dialogue between the residents of the Garvaghy Road and the representatives of the Orange Order," he said.
Both id Ms Rodgers and Mr Hume welcomed Mrs Hillary Clinton's clear condemnation of the murder of Mrs Rosemary Nelson. "Hillary Clinton clearly recognised the murder of Rosemary Nelson as the work of those people who don't want peace. I think her call was very clearly not to let these people succeed," said Ms Rodgers. Mr Hume added that the comments from the First Lady represented the views of both local and international communities.
As part of his duties yesterday, Mr Hume officially opened the Zero-8-Teen Centre in Craigavon, a care facility for children of working mothers. The project was partially funded by the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
Mr Hume said: "Through the Peace and Reconciliation programme, community groups such as this are now able to benefit directly from funding, without having to go through government departments. This effectively cuts out the middle man."
Other unionist candidates running in the election are the Ulster Unionist, Mr Jim Nicholson, and the Rev Ian Paisley, of the Democratic Unionist Party, both incumbents. The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchell McLaughlin, the leader of the Alliance Party, Mr Sean Neeson, and Mr James Anderson, the leader of the Natural Law Party, will also contest the election.