Alliance to select European candidate

12.00.00am GMT Tue 10th Feb 2004

THE Alliance Party will tonight make arrangements to select a candidate for the European Parliament election in June.

A Party Council meeting on Saturday instructed the Party's Executive to hold a selection meeting in early May.

Speaking to the Executive on Tuesday, David Ford stated:

"With the retirement of the two MEPs who have represented Northern Ireland since the first direct election in 1979, I believe that the election due in June is now extremely open.

"Both Ian Paisley and John Hume had significant personal support which will not necessarily transfer to their party colleagues. There is clearly a major threat to the seats held by the UUP and the SDLP as a result of recent developments."

Colm Cavanagh, outgoing Alliance President has indicated that he is considering contesting the selection.