Castlereagh council by-election imminent

The latest information suggests that Iris Robinson will step down from her political roles next week.

A general election is due, in May, at the latest. But, as at least two people have helpfully pointed out, the time restrictions involved in issuing a writ for a Westminster by-election renders it unlikely that there will be an early poll in Strangford.

So Iris Robinson's constituents will effectively be without an MP for anything up to four months.

The DUP will want to co-opt a councillor in order to replace Iris in Castlereagh Borough Council, but Robinsons' unionist opponents, justifiably, are likely to demand that the public be consulted.

Expect at least one by-election, and a strong challenge to the DUP's supremacy, within weeks, rather than months.

Comments

Timothy Belmont said…
I heard that there may not be sufficient time to issue the writ for a by-election prior to the general election; in which case Strangford would, indeed, be without appropriate representation for months.
Personally I don't see why it couldn't be done - where there's a will, there's a way...

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