Former SDLP leader and now Fine Gael European election candidate Mark Durkan says the vote in May can send a 'green jersey' message to Brexiteers
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with former SDLP leader Mark Durkan. Image: Leah Farrell Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with former SDLP leader Mark Durkan. Image: Leah Farrell FORMER LEADER OF the SDLP party, Mark Durkan, is to run as a Fine Gael candidate in the European elections.Flanked by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Fitzgerald at a press conference today, Durkan was described as a man to offer “leadership for city, country and Northern Ireland”.
I am standing on basis of who I am and not who I am pretending to be. Durkan said he is standing on the basis of his experience, and not on answers that he will cram to learn in an attempt to “pull off some bluff”. “I’m here because I received what I regarded as a bold, and genuine, and brilliant invitation by the Taoiseach and by Fine Gael,” said Durkan.
During the press conference, Varadkar revealed Durkan was considered to fill the Seanad seat, which was eventually taken by Ian MarshalL. The seat was on the agricultural panel and as he’s an “urban Derry dweller” Durkan said he wasn’t the right fit for the job.