The higher profile new members of the Alliance Party were today welcomed to the bosom of the conference at the Dunadry. David Ford named them in his speech, and seats had been reserved in the front row of the hall.
I caught up with Harry Hamilton during the lunch break. He explained why he was drawn to Alliance and confirmed that he was willing to serve the party in the future if he was required. The official line is that the candidate selection process is in the hands of the Upper Bann constituency association and the central party won’t be interfering in the democratic process. However, there is much talk at conference of the impact that Hamilton would make in the constituency for the party if he was to run in the May elections.
Update 4.50pm: Harry Hamilton gave his maiden conference speech (with Alliance) later on in the afternoon, seconding the Shared Future motion.
Alan Meban. Tweets as @alaninbelfast. Blogs about cinema and theatre over at Alan in Belfast. A freelancer who writes about, reports from, live-tweets and live-streams civic, academic and political events and conferences. He delivers social media training/coaching; produces podcasts and radio programmes; is a FactCheckNI director; a member of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland; and a member of the Corrymeela Community.