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Ulster Unionist Party Assembly election candidate for Foyle, Peter Munce will nominate today at 1pm at the electoral office in Londonderry.

Speaking ahead of his nomination Mr Munce said,

“I am looking forward to the campaign and offering the voters of Foyle a choice in this election – a choice between looking forward, with me or looking back to the past with others.

“I believe passionately that we can build a better society for all of us in this city and in Northern Ireland through the values of progressive politics. By looking forward, we can instil hope, build confidence and create opportunity for all within our community.”

Mr Munce also unveiled his five local campaign pledges. In the next Assembly Peter is making a commitment to the people of Foyle that he will:

Ulster Unionist Party Assembly election candidate for Foyle, Peter Munce will nominate today at 1pm at the electoral office in Londonderry.

Speaking ahead of his nomination Mr Munce said,

“I am looking forward to the campaign and offering the voters of Foyle a choice in this election – a choice between looking forward, with me or looking back to the past with others.

“I believe passionately that we can build a better society for all of us in this city and in Northern Ireland through the values of progressive politics. By looking forward, we can instil hope, build confidence and create opportunity for all within our community.”

Mr Munce also unveiled his five local campaign pledges. In the next Assembly Peter is making a commitment to the people of Foyle that he will:

<li> Address the deep sense of isolation and social exclusion felt by some within the community by building confidence and capacity.

<li> Focus on building stronger, safer communities in areas of Foyle like New Buildings, Eglinton, Maydown, Claudy and Drumahoe by tacking anti social behaviour, encouraging economic regeneration and improving access to public services such as health clinics and public transport.

<li> Press for improved transport links to Foyle. This means safeguarding the future of the Londonderry to Belfast rail link and securing funding for an intercity dual carriageway to Belfast.

<li> Support steps to end the ‘brain drain’ in Foyle where each year thousands of our talented young people leave the North West to work and study elsewhere. This means offering them a reason to stay by providing quality education and quality jobs.

<li> Campaign in the Assembly for the ‘Walled City’ to be placed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites recognising its cultural significance and tourism potential.

Commenting on the 5 pledges Peter said,

“Politics is about people and people are hungry for a new type of politics that reflects their hopes and ambitions. I urge people to hold onto these pledges, and if elected to serve in the Assembly, see that I keep my promises.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly election candidate for Foyle, Peter Munce said today that he aims to look forward, not back for the unionist community in Foyle and said that choice will be a key issue in this election for the Unionist Community in Foyle.

Mr Munce said it was “disappointing that the DUP have begun the Assembly election campaign in Foyle by launching an attack against fellow unionists.” However he claimed it was “not surprising given that they have a candidate who is simply incapable of looking forward to the future and only interested in talking about the past.”

In a statement Mr Munce said,

“Instead of discussing the issues that really matter to the unionist community in Foyle, the DUP has chosen to attack the UUP for fielding a candidate and offering the people of Foyle a choice in this election.

“Choice is what this election must be about in Foyle – a choice between looking forward, building confidence and instilling hope under me and the UUP or looking back to the past under the DUP.

“I appeal for the Unionist community to ask themselves what have the DUP achieved for the people of Foyle over the years – either in the Assembly or in the Council?

“If given the chance to serve, I will make addressing the deep sense of alienation felt by the unionist community my priority because this City will not be a good place for any of us to live in until it is a good place for all of us to live in. Only with reassurances, in word and deed, that our rights will be respected and our position in this City valued will the Unionist community be able look to the future and build a fresh start in this city based upon respect and partnership.

“Over the coming weeks my campaign will focus on looking forward, not back. This means talking about the issues that affect all of us like how we build stronger, fairer communities in Foyle, improve transport infrastructure links in the area, address educational underachievement, combat anti – social behaviour in our local communities, develop economic regeneration and look after the environment. This election is far too important to become sidetracked by petty arguments with others.

“I am committed to moving politics on in Northern Ireland, seeing devolution restored and helping our country to take its place as a vibrant, prosperous and stable region of the United Kingdom. This means voting Ulster Unionist on March 7th to support politics and policies that are good for all of us.”

Ulster Unionist Foyle Assembly election candidate, Peter Munce has strongly condemned today an incident that took place in the Waterside area of Londonderry where a teenager was struck on the head last night with an iron bar in what police say was a sectarian attack.

Speaking this afternoon Mr Munce said,

“I strongly condemn this brutal attack carried out by a group of mindless thugs and would appeal for anyone with any information on the incident to contact the local police immediately.

“This type of behaviour has no place in a democratic society. The full force of the law must be brought to bear on those louts responsible for this attack.”

Ulster Unionist Party Assembly election candidate for Foyle, Peter Munce has appealed for calm today in the Irish Street/Gobnascale interface in the Waterside area of Londonderry after a second night of disturbances.In a statement Mr Munce said,

“It is deeply regrettable that these disturbances have been ongoing for a second night. I would appeal for calm in the area and for police to receive the fullest possible cooperation.

“As we try to move towards more peaceful times, it is disappointing that this is happening, especially in the current climate.

“I have the highest praise for those local community leaders who are on the ground attempting to resolve the issue and diffuse tensions.”

Ulster Unionist Party Assembly election candidate for Foyle, Peter Munce has appealed for calm today in the Irish Street/Gobnascale interface in the Waterside area of Londonderry after a second night of disturbances.

In a statement Mr Munce said,

“It is deeply regrettable that these disturbances have been ongoing for a second night. I would appeal for calm in the area and for police to receive the fullest possible cooperation.

“As we try to move towards more peaceful times, it is disappointing that this is happening, especially in the current climate.

“I have the highest praise for those local community leaders who are on the ground attempting to resolve the issue and diffuse tensions.”

UUP Foyle Spokesman, Peter Munce has welcomed the decision in the High Court today that the name of Northern Ireland’s second city is to remain Londonderry stating that it was a victory for common sense.

In a statement Mr Munce said,

“In the interest of community relations in the City this is a most welcome decision. What we must do now is move on from this divisive issue, look to the future and begin to focus on how we tackle issues in the City that really matter to people.

“The Unionist community feel a deep sense of alienation in the City and changing the name would only have served to further this sense of marginalisation. Instead of wasting rate payer’s money on this issue, what we should have been doing is concentrating on how to address social exclusion and the lack of proper infrastructure across the City.

“Unionists have a vital role to play in the life of the City but until the trust-deficit, which exists in the minds of many Unionist people in the area, is addressed, we will not be able to build a stable future that respects both traditions. There is a need for hope, reassurance and trust building in this city.”

The Ulster Unionist Party in Foyle has selected Young Unionist Vice Chairman, Peter Munce, to fight the seat for the party in the forthcoming Assembly election.

Mr Munce, 24, was unanimously selected on Monday evening and will be the youngest candidate on the Party’s ticket. Peter, from Castlerock in County Londonderry, has a wealth of experience in the party and a number of connections to the city having lived and studied there for a number of years.

Speaking after the selection meeting Mr Munce said,

“I am extremely pleased and honoured to have been selected to represent the Ulster Unionist Party in Foyle. I look forward to working with the party locally as we seek to maximise the Unionist vote in Foyle for the UUP. The Unionist people of Foyle need strong, effective and purposeful representation in the Assembly, something I believe I can provide.

“I am committed to moving politics on, seeing devolution restored in Northern Ireland and building a better future for all of us. I want to see a modern Northern Ireland take its place as a vibrant, prosperous and stable part of the UK.

“The Ulster Unionist Party with its commitment to improving the quality of life for everyone in terms of health care, education, social justice and the environment is the party which, with the support of the electorate, can deliver politics for the common good in Northern Ireland.”

Local Party Chairman and Party Officer Terence Wright welcomed the selection of Peter and said,

“The electorate in Foyle are now being given a chance to move on by giving their vote to a young man who has confidence in the future and in our ability as a community to build that future together.

“Those who have voted in the past for parties that cannot move on, or who previously have been turned off by politics here, now have the opportunity to make their choice for meaningful and sustainable change and progress”.