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NEWS: McGibbon selected as Green Party general election candidate
Adam McGibbon, the recently elected Union vice-president for welfare, is set for a second daunting electoral challenge this semester, successfully landing the Green Party’s nomination for Belfast South in the upcoming UK general elections. Queen’s University is situated in this constituency.
BY LORCAN MULLEN
The current MP, the SDLP’s Alasdair McDonnell, will be defending a slim majority against McGibbon, the UCUNF’s Paula Bradshaw, Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey and Alliance’s Anna Lo, among others. In 2005, McDonnell won with 10,339 votes. In the 2007 Assembly elections, Green candidate Brenda Cooke secured a tally of 737 votes.
A postgraduate politics student at Queen’s University, McGibbon joined the Green Party in 2007 at the age of 19, becoming the youngest member of the Party’s Executive Committee and is currently the Chairperson of the South Belfast branch. He was elected unanimously at a meeting of the branch, and has already begun canvassing in the area.
Speaking to The Gown, McGibbon insisted that such canvassing, so far confined to non-student areas, had elicited an “excellent response”, with the Greens’ flagship ‘green new deal’ proving popular on the doorsteps. This ‘green new deal’ would see an estimated 38,000 jobs created in the renewable energy sector, with a particular boost for the beleaguered construction trade. Initial investment would go towards home insulation and indigenous forms of power generation, like woodchip farming and burning. McGibbon pointed out that these new blue-collar jobs would be largely immune to outsourcing, the consistent scourge of the North’s ever-faltering economy.
In South Belfast, McGibbon will be pushing a “20 is plenty” speed limit in built up areas, while also supporting free home insulation for any house that needs it. According to the Young Green, the apparent malaise over environmental campaigning after the failed Copenhagen summit, coupled with the murky media hype surrounding leaked emails from the University of East Anglia, has not reached the doorsteps of South Belfast. Rather, “people are more convinced that action has to be taken by them, not just governments.”
Apart from environmental and economic considerations, McGibbon stressed the power of the Greens’ untainted “new” politics, outside the bickering of sectarian division and unsullied from the various recent political scandals at Westminster. He asserted that the Greens are the only party in Stormont who do not accept corporate donations.
When pushed on the charge that his movement is a strictly middle-class pursuit, McGibbon reported a particular warmth from working class constituents when told of the Greens’ absence from the oft-repeated ‘heads in the trough’ behaviour of a large number of incumbent MPs and political leaders.
McGibbon also refuted the argument that a Green vote would increase the chances of the UCUNF (Conservative) candidate defeating Alasdair McDonnell. McDonnell and the SDLP typically vote with Labour at Westminster. He questioned the true progressive impulses of McDonnell, but also the Alliance Party, stating that “they aren’t honest in how they present themselves.”
Most importantly, McGibbon encouraged students to participate in the elections, primarily through registration at their place of study, “where they spend most of their time…let’s talk about cold houses, fuel poverty, student fees.”
With more than 20,000 studying at the university, a significant Union voter-registration drive could well see students dominate the political debate in this constituency for years to come, leveraging votes to commit the MP for South Belfast to policies that are good for students and young people, not just “permanent residents.”
If anyone is interested in helping Adam’s campaign, email vote@southbelfastgreens.com
Tags: Adam McGibbon, Gown, Green Party, Lorcan Mullen, newspaper, QUBSU, Queen's, queen's university, student, students, su, The Gown
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 25th, 2010 at 10:01 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I would agree that if it's a Green Party Policy then abortion should be mentioned on their website as such.
Unknownmale does sound a bit brash in his arguments about abortion though.
Emma, As a female, with a womb of course, I would tend to make it a point of finding out if a guy is a complete (beep) before I sleep with him. Make them wait, mention scary words like commitment and such, find out what their family's like etc. But if you're worried about pregnancy and yer man running off leaving you holding the fetus maybe you need to look at your choice of contraceptives. I would suggest taking the pill and using a condom at the same time it's like 99.999999% effective. Ask your doctor.
I'm not trying to be rude to you either, it's just prevention is better than cure... particularly in this case.
And in answer to the question is it murder to abort an unborn baby? That's kind of the entire debate but IMO it is. If a happily pregnant woman has a miscariage do you not offer condolances?
And of course there's always adoption if you don't want to/can't afford to keep the child.
I would also point out that abortion is legal in NI where the mother's life and/or mental stability is deemed at risk from the preganancy. Which is the only instance I personally would allow it.
Sorry to continue this debate I just didn't like the pro-life representation on here.
Dear Unknownmale:
Reading these comments I am appalled and disgusted at your attitude. By trying to tarnish the reputation of someone such as Adam by turning his success into an abortion debate is appallingly bad taste. A debate, which is extremely mis-informed and argued in a patheticly child-like manner. Although you claim to not be trying to start this debate, even by drawing on such a sensitive issue in the first place, surely you are mature enough to understand that such a debate was sure to follow.
The fact that you are unable to formulate an argumnent without the extensive use of swearing and accusing others of "whining like a little b**ch" is a very sad state of affairs. You have also shot yourself in the foot with your 'pro-life' comment "wear a condom" as if you had researched the issue in the slightest you would be aware that condoms are not 100% efective, what would such a sensible person such as you do in that situation? I am deeply offended by your insinuation that all people who have unwanted pregnancies do so as a result of reckless behaviour.
Finally, this article was meant to be a celebration of a respected CURRENT student who is standing up for his beliefs in a dignified and positive manner (which is more than we can say for some). As current students, if we are not even capable of supporting one another in such ventures this is a very sad day for all at Queen's. Please find another medium to channel your hateful comments. Although this section is for people to comment on the story, I think I am safe in saying that the majority of Gown readers would have been appalled by your childish and hateful behaviour and such comments are not welcome.
Green Party is a waste of a vote, in saying that Adam has been dead-on anytime I've met him
@ Emma
Once again I will say I'M NOT GETTING INTO THE ABORTION DEBATE. I WAS MERELY DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT ITS A GREEN PARTY POLICY
go adam!!!!!!!
How is ut death if it isn't yet born?
And how are you not a student when you are doing an MA?
actually, registered voter, if that is your real name, i think you'll find that I have revealed my identity. Look i said i wasn't getting into the abortion debate.
at no point did i say everyone who's pro-choice goes around murdering feotuses. I used the phrase "pro-death" because its the opposite of "pro-life".
You want a choice? here's a pro-choice decision for you, wear a condom.
Every post you've made you've been "whining like a little bitch", i've found it difficult to pick one sentence where you haven't been "whining like a little bitch".
i'm not gonna argue the abortion debate because it is impossible to change someone's opinion on it.
this is a farcical arguement - he's never going to win.
unknownmale:
Pro-death!? Does everyone who has a pro-choice stance go around 'murdering fetuses' and kicking pregnant women in the stomach? Are you for real!? Wise up and lift your head out of the sand mate.
If you're really that passionate about your hate-filled beliefs you could put a name to your posts instead of hiding behind an anonymous user name. Grow a pair.
Also, the article clearly states that Adam is a postgraduate student, so he isn't finished his studies, he is still a student and is standing up for student interests as part of a wider green platform. Don't like it? Then don't vote for him and stop whining like a little bitch.
Think I'll put some money on him to actually get his deposit returned. He has to increase 2007's 2.4% to 5%. I think he can do it. He'll enjoy the experience anyway and probably be considering his positioning for next year's Assembly and City Council elections :)
I think it's disgraceful that there's very obviously sour grapes here - people that lost the sabb elections posting away here anonymously. Grow up.
Adam is going to be fighting for students by raising the issues on a national platform. He most likely won't get in. But, after the general election, he's going to be an amazing VP Welfare.
What have the nay-sayers on this blog post done for students recently?
Oh wiat, you've sat on The Gown blog all day? I see...
@unknown male
Actually I think you'll find Adam is currently enrolled as a Queen's student and will be at the time of the election
also i think green party member should be ashamed of themselves, you think this is about getting behind a student? Adam is finished his studies, this is about supporting him as a green party member, keep your party politics to yourself
hold on, technically speaking adam is a pro-death candidate. Its not about students rights. Is he going to campaign for an all student holylands? No. He's going to campaign for green party bullshit,, carbon footprint wank. Long term residents rights, feutus murder, recycling, literally fuck all to do with students
I have to say I also found the comments in the article about this guy splitting the vote and thus letting in the UUP deeply worrying.
The Gown should not engage in sectarianism such as this.
What is worse is Lorcan Mullan has yet to apologise.
For goodness sake! This isn't an abortion debate it's about the student population getting behind one of their own who making a huge leap into the world of politics! Regardless of personal beliefs support Adam because he's had the balls to do something I'm pretty sure a lot of you folks hiding behind harsh words couldn't do.
I'll be voting for Adam regardless of what Union position he holds because like in the VP elections I believed he was the best candidate.
If you want to kick up a fuss go picket McDonnell's GP's office and stop having a moan.
perhaps you could give me the link to this policy? because on their health policy, on their main policies page i could only find this
http://www.greenpartyni.org/pdfs/health.pdf
and you can read through it if you want, you'll find no mention of the word abortion, and i imagine that this would be the place best suited for it saying as its considered a medical proceedure
@ The Sage
because in the world of journalism, cursing is unconscionable.
It is. Big Green logo in the corner and then a pres release. But then I am total fail with internet and computers so maybe found the stealth page and not the normal one?
'Re: the cursing. I’m so very sorry my potty mouth has offended your sensibilities.'
Apology accepted, just trying to educate if you want to ever be taken seriously as a journalist :)
funny that because that policy is not available on their website, I'd consider that a stealth policy
To Chocolateanimalbiscuitsarelovely, first of all, waesome name. Secondly, I didn't mean men can have no views on abortion, but to bring that up as the "and it's the abhorent Green party with that proabortion stance" riled me.
I don't think it's a stealth policy, but then maybe that's because it's something I looked into before the last election as it's something I car about. But I would imagine very prolife people would then look into it as well. And then the apathetic people probably won't be voting.
i'm not getting into the abortion debate. I was merely bringing up the fact that the green's are pro-abortion, one of their stealth policies. If you're pro-life I'm advising you that its in their manifesto. You'll maybe think twice when you vote for him
It's cool how an article about a QUB student running in an election has turned into a debate about abortion. What's the next topic up for debate? Euthanasia? Go on!
Yes Emma, you are right. Him being male means that he shouldn't suggest that abortion is wrong. From what I can see a lot of people who lay claim to "being their own person" and it being their choice because its their body aren't too slow to emphasise the responsibilities of these "runaway" dads when it comes to lookin a nice wee cheque from them.
Of course the fathers should be there, in all senses, but it just reeks to suggest they have no say/rights in the abortion debate only to shovel the consequences of a decision they had no say on on them later...
resign adam you double standards greasy gravy train politician.
@ The Sage
I know I phrased it clumsily. Re: the cursing. I'm so very sorry my potty mouth has offended your sensibilities.
Complete waste of a vote....this guy is really on an ego trip....even the workers party will get more than him...
I understand the anger at the VP Welfare possibly not even getting into the job before resigning. I thought McGibbon was going to buck the trend and do a full term. But it's the idealist in me who is angry, the idealist who sees this seat as Anna Lo against Adam. Unfortunately the reality is that neither of them stand a chance and it will be DUP or SDLP.
To blatant secterianism. having lived my whole life in South Belfast, it is not a question of secterianism. My parents would vote SDLP and UUP in elections. Right up until the UUP became Conservative, to vote for them now is deploreable. And they aren't lone voices on this.
To Unknownmale, I get that being male means you don't have a womb so you are at a natural disadvantage when it comes to the subject of abortion. But the Greens are fantastic in this regard. I know hardline duppers who are holier than thou but believe that it should be equal opertunitites for those in NI. Statistically, the percentages are the same for women having abortions from the mainland and from NI. Only differance is women in NI need to pay, and don't get the same luxury of fully analyzing their situation. But when you wake up and find your period is three wakes late and you go into meltdown about how you are going to cope, tell people, what you are going to do if the dad decides to eff off and leave you to do everything alone, then please tell me how the Greens manifesto on the issue is repugnant. Me and my womb think it is refreshing.
'McGibbon also refuted the argument that a Green vote would increase the chances of the UCUNF (Conservative) candidate defeating Alasdair McDonnell.'
To be fair that comment was ridiculous, your follow up comment where you felt the need to curse doesn't reflect very well on you either. As for McGibbon, best of luck to him. Obviously he won't get elected but I think he'll increase the Green vote which will be a great start for him
no your dead right Sarah, not bad for the old CV at all, because if recent years are anything to go by there's no other reason why someone would run for sabbatical office. Well, use of a room upstairs in the union late at night might come in handy for hanky panky
Congratulations to Adam for getting the nomination! I wholeheartedly believe that he will make a huge contribution to Queen's whether it is as VP Welfare or for the Green Party. Running for both just shows how passionate he is about the issues and confirms my faith that he will do a great job - gives me someone to vote for in the election. Also, even if he doesn't win it's not at all bad for the CV.
Last time I saw McGibbon, he didn't look anything like that...lol... get a recent photo, Gown!
@ John B. Dick
funny enough when you said kick and i analysed it in my mind I got visions of the horse shoe as per the tesco energy drink
@ blatant sectarianism
"What the hell has that got to do with anything?? It appears Lorcan believes this might let the prods in. Shocking. Can’t have them sort of people winning in South Belfast now can we.
What a biased piece of ‘journalism’.
Brendan/Catherine – can you check if this breaks any of the Gowns code of conduct? Also I would like clarification from Lorcan that he did not mean what to write what he did. Either that or I will be making an issue of this both through the Union as well as the University."
Well I laughed when I read this. The next line says how McDonnell typically votes with Labour - I put 'Conservative' in brackets, not 'Unionist' -I imagine centre-left inclined South Belfast voters, Catholic or Protestant, would wonder if a Green vote increases the chances of a Tory getting in - an SDLP win, for better or worse, would slightly increase the chances of a Labour government. In a very tight election race, this is an important side issue.
Besides, I am NO SDLP supporter, believe me.
I meant exactly what I wrote, and you can take me before whoever the f**k you please. Also, if you're making such outlandish accusations, based on a half-arsed read of the story, do feel free to put your name to them.
Oh, and didn't the UUP's behaviour over policing force the resignation of a number of Catholic UCUNF candidates?
@ unknownmale
Possibly more of an "Ain't that a kick in the head" kick.
But closer to kick in the teeth. Much closer.
Certainly not "kick" in the "Tesco brand energy drink: Kick" sense.
Bower running in West Tyrone as well. Two nice fellas, but no doubt will be fighting it out for the wooden spoon in each constituency.
McGibbon has a better chance of staying off the bottom with the cacophony as political minorities South Belfast attracts.
It's all good having 20,000 students in South Belfast, but how many are actually registered to vote there. I'd imagine most register 'at home', I know I did.
Encouraging students to register for a constituency that they don't plan to stay in for the long term isn't IMO a very good idea.
also also @ John B. Dick
I regress
Your use of the word "kick", you are unclear as to whether you mean kick as in a "kick start" or "kick in the teeth".
also @ John B. Dick
that might well be the single greatest video I've ever seen, no joke
i don't know Adam.
By the way I can't wait to see the manifesto you're all writing for him, especially the part that says "don't actually vote for me, the Green Party have financed my bid purely so I can raise my profile in the community".
@ unknownmale
You're awesome. Not taking the piss. Honestly.
If you read the comment before yours, I did say that he had it in his mind before the SU elections.
May I refer you to this however:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHJCvJSnyyg&fea...
You won't find anything happier.
Susan was apparently "head hunted" for a job. Adam is running in an election in which he will build a profile, and as VP Welfare, this will be beneficial to students. Plus it shows how pro-active and passionate he is. It's not as if he's away to work in the hospitality industry.
I may not think much of his party but I think its great to see a student standing in the GE!
As for this impacting on his role as VP? wise up! hes standing for the Greens he wont win, itl be a great experience and the election will be over long before he starts his new job
They are supporting Adam yet were easy to condemn Susan Kearney. Adam is currently VP Welfare constitutionally! Conflict of interests
Am I the only one who finds unknownmale funny? I wish I could be more patronising as you sound so alarmed and angry that you obviously have a personal grievance with Adam not what hes doing - which can't be faulted. You are yet to actually get the point - obviously hes not going to win this election but it will raise his profile in the community. It shows a seriousness and dedication to the representation of not just student needs but a communities needs. What the hell is wrong with that!?! get over yourself - if this was anyone from the gaa/law crowd from last year standing, no doubt you'd be pushing for solar panels in the backs of their trousers as your green energy solution.
there are a number of people who are in serious need of a reality check.
firstly @ John B. Dick
what planet are you on? of course he thought about running before he was elected to the Exec.
I refer you to the following link http://lmgtfy.com/?q=am+i+stupid%3F
In relation to double-jobbing I believe that it refers to a person who holds two or more political offices, which is a term that would apply to Adam if, which he won't, gets elected to Westminster.
And I'm also quite aware that national government is more important than student politics. Checking twice to make sure you've wiped properly is more important than student politics because Andrew Dodge is running the show.
@ Caro
"@unknownmale
You keep saying “if he wins…” then why don’t we just wait and see whether he wins or not, and save your whining and complaining until then! I hope he does well! Someone standing up for students in a general election has got to be welcomed – don’t understand you if you don’t welcome it."
I keep saying "if he wins, which he won't" because he won't. I unlike you live on planet earth. I am aware that most students are interested in the following:
1. How big is the queue outside the Union?
2. Is the Union even on tonight?
3. Do we need tickets for the union?
4. If the Union's full is scratch on?
5. What time are you starting drinking at?
6. What are you getting for a carryout?
7. How big is the queue outside the Bot?
etc. etc. etc.
Most students wouldn't be able to tell you what parlimentary constituency Queen's is in never mind who the MP is.
and finally @ SU Insider
"Whoever said that “unknownmale” sounds like a sabbatical candidate who was defeated at the last election… they may be right.."
They may be right, but they're not. In fact unknownmale may not even be a student any more, unknownmale might be Bruce Wayne, although I can assure you that he is not, because Bruce Wayne is a fictional character.
But unknownmale definitely has pride in his alma matter, and it's students' union, but unknownmale knows that year after year the egos of sabbatical officers only grow and grow. And slowly but surely the Union becomes a corporate entity, a wholly owned subsiduary of Queen's University Belfast plc.
What kind of message is Adam McGibbon sending to those that would run for office in future years? By all means go for it but if a better offer comes up take it and let some other clown inherrit your failings? He makes a mockery of the electoral process at the union, he makes a mockery of the other sabaticals that were elected this year and he makes a mockery of everyone who voted for him.
The DUP and UUP are talking about alliances to make sure that the SDLP do not hold South Belfast or god forbid Sinn Fein should gain the seat, they're not worried about the Green Party because students are too self-serviant, too apathetic and basically don't care enough to vote for anyone.
Wake up people ffs, you're embarassing yourselves.
@ unknownmale...
I don't think you understand the term "double-jobbing". Start here: www.google.com
Having a student officer-elect standing in a general election shows a degree of seriousness and professionalism (and that student issues should be a key issue for the constituents of Belfast South).
Despite there being dick-all chance of him being elected, it is a bit of a kick to his dedication to the SU to think that he had this in mind before the SU elections. (We can probably all agree that national government is more important that student politics.) I'm sure it's an altruistic move to a great degree though.
In fairness, it's more probable that the Greens are cashing in on Adam's recent popularity in a constituency that has the potential to cast a ridiculously high number of votes from students.
This situation is not similar the Susan Kearney one which occurred recently:
Susan left a position working for the Welfare of students for a job wholly unrelated to student welfare.
Adam on the other hand will potentially leave his VP Welfare position in QUB-controlled establishment to further the interests of students at a much larger platform.
This is all theory btw- it's highly likely student apathy will mean he won't be elected.
"If this was Paul Lilly or Barry Duffy up for election...."
Now there's a register of members' interests I'd like to see: Nights out at The Bot charged on the expenses account; private planes taken to Tyrone games.
@unknownmale
You keep saying "if he wins..." then why don't we just wait and see whether he wins or not, and save your whining and complaining until then! I hope he does well! Someone standing up for students in a general election has got to be welcomed - don't understand you if you don't welcome it.
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And now that I've got that outta the way my actual opinion about this article is:
I think it's great for Adam that he's got this far but I don't think there'll be much of a student vote to spur him on. My parents register me every year at home and that's where I will vote. It's also where I'm most passionate about the politics of.
And I don't think the conservative vs labour comments are sectarian in this article. Even SDLP vs UCUNF isn't IMO it's just a fact that the votes will be split.
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