By Julie Waters
WESTMINSTER election hopeful Alex Easton has urged local residents to make sure their voices are heard in an ‘election that will shape the future of North Down’.
Announcing his intentions to stand as an Independent Unionist in the forthcoming general election, the poll topping Assembly man made his declaration at a public meeting at Bangor’s British Legion.
After tragically losing both his parents in a house fire last year, Mr Easton dedicated his candidacy to his late father and to ‘everyone who wants to see positive change in North Down’.
The former DUP politician said that ‘North Down should be a safe Unionist seat’ and he was ‘the only realistic pro Union candidate in the field that can win’.
Outlining his electoral hopes, Mr Easton said: “I believe the people of North Down should be offered the widest possible choice to elect someone who is strong and confident on the Union and will promote the benefits of the Union to all – we should not have a border down the Irish Sea.”
Mr Easton said that ‘as a local boy’ and ‘one of your own’ he had ‘worked at the heart of the local community’ and was ‘willing to work for all’ regardless of ‘religion, nationality, gender, colour or creed’.
However he said that ‘sadly this representation has all been lacking since the departure of our former Independent Unionist MP Lady Sylvia Hermon’.
The Assemblyman said he would be a hardworking MP who is ‘seen on the ground all the time and not just at election time’.
He said this election would ‘shape the future of North Down for years to come’ and ‘will be an election where your voice really counts and where the people of North Down will get the chance to send a really strong message though me, a message of hope’.
Stating his political goals, Mr Easton said: “I want to see help for local business and want to work for more jobs to come to North Down. I want to see the maximum support for local community organisations and to build the confidence in our future generations of young people so they can have a better lives.
“I want to secure new school builds and fight for more funding through our block grant to boost our local services such as the PSNI, health and education as well as assisting the business community.”
Mr Easton said: “At Westminster I will put the interests of the people of North Down first, not just those of political parties. There are so many issues that have been sadly lacking and ignored. I aim to change that.”
Issuing an appeal for public support Mr Easton said: “I humbly ask the electorate of North Down to give me the chance to demonstrate what I have proven at both the council and the Assembly time and time again. I ask them to allow me the great privilege and honour to serve you at Westminster as the only Unionist candidate that can win.”
