Shannon joins Westminster race

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'This is not the end, this is not the beginning of the end, it is only the end of the beginning', was the quote borrowed from Sir Winston Churchill, by the DUP's Jim Shannon, during his address to Strangford DUP Association last night (Wednesday).

Alderman Shannon is now viewed by many as the strongest contender for the Strangford Westminster seat in the forthcoming general election, after he stood before Strangford DUP Association last night uncontested.

It is believed Jim Wells had initially decided to submit an application for the nominations, but withdrew. He has since offered his support to Mr Shannon, and gone as far as to set aside several days in order to canvass on his behalf.

The Ards Borough Councillor and Strangford MLA spoke of his dedication to both his party and to his constituents, adding his lengthy and in-depth knowledge of the constituency and the relationships and trust he had formed with those living in it was his greatest strength. The lack of knowledge, he added, of his UUP rival Mike Nesbitt would be the former UTV presenter's downfall.

"My strength is a proven track record in Strangford - where has Nesbitt been? Does he know the street names, the area? He is wrong if thinks that the people of Strangford will be taken in by the glitz and glamour of a parachuted blow in," he commented.

The 54 year old spoke of his political pedigree, labelling Dr Paisley as his mentor from an early age: "My record is there for all to see. I have been a member of the DUP since 1977 and before that I was a supporter. I remember as a boy listening to Dr Paisley on the radio and watching on television as he stood as a voice of truth and hope for the province and who worked tirelessly to ensure that we were not forgotten and ignored.

"As I looked at him and felt his passion, in me grew the desire to be a strong man of passion and principle and to work for my country and community and make a difference."

He continued: "He taught me to go the extra mile for my constituents, although the road was long and often lonely and it is my desire that some day I will be known and remembered in the same light as this great son of Ulster, as a man who worked for the individual on the ground and fought for the province in the background."

Mr Shannon has been an Ards Councillor for 25 years and was Mayor in 1991/92. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 and holds the record for the most questions asked to Ministers. He said of this: "These questions are the result of constituent and bodies such as the fishing and farming organisations coming to me and asking for answers. I get those answers in the most time effective way, and also in the most transparent way, so that people can see and understand what the Ministers in the Executive are doing to help, or not help in some cases, the people of Strangford."

The MLA runs advice centres in Newtownards and Ballywalter, as well as satellite surgeries in Portavogie and Killyleagh.

Working on average 90 hours a week, Mr Shannon is confident his dedication and willingness to help will secure him a seat in Westminster, as successor to his disgraced former DUP colleague, Iris Robinson: "I am convinced that my reputation as a worker will deliver party, non-party and undecided unionist and non-unionist votes in the election."

Mr Shannon is married, and he and his wife Sandra have three sons and a grand-daughter. Until recently, Mr Shannon completed an early morning run with his pork retailing business, before he started constituency work.

"He explained how his personal and working life will change if elected: "My son, who is currently taking greater responsibilities in my pork retailing business, will take over the family business in order to ensure that I can continue to focus on the work that has to be done in Strangford. At present he carries out most of the work and I am more a symbolic head € this is not something that I want to do."

Full report in this week's Chronicle.