The DUP has finally announced its candidate for South Belfast, Jimmy Spratt, a former head of the Police Federation. The Newsletter predicts this will be one of the most bruising contests in the whole election, with Spratt giving the much high profile UU candidate, the former Arts minister, Michael McGimpsey. Although hopes that the SDLP’s Alisdair McDonnell will be able to squeeze Alex Maskey’s vote sufficient to come in through the middle and steal this Unionist majority seat: despite the latter’s controversial public statements in the aftermath of the McCartney killing, look like a very long shot.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
