Sammy Wilson is the sole member of the DUP's bohemian wing. Although, he
desperately wanted to win East Antrim, he still refused to be the
stereotypical parliamentary candidate.
The DUP is big into family. Election literature for every other hopeful
showed them with spouse and children, all in Sunday best. Sammy (51), and
divorced, was pictured in leathers on his motorbike.
He has three – a Harley Davidson, a Yamaha, and a 22-year-old Honda. He'd
love to go round the world on a bike. He's already been across the Alps,
Tuscany, and Greece.
"The Greek islands were brilliant," he says. "I slept on the beach. In
Athens, the bike broke down and I slept beside it on the street. I was
teaching at the time and I'd three days to get from the islands, across
Europe, up through England, and back to Northern Ireland, for the start of
term. I made it with about an hour to spare."
Wilson has never played by the rules. Many predicted his DUP career was over
when a tabloid newspaper published pictures of him nude, frolicking in the
English countryside, with his then girlfriend.
But Sammy survived: "It was a very difficult time and lots of people were
disappointed in me. But I've learned my lesson – ensure there are no photos
on any trips!"
"Sammy is great fun to be with," says DUP deputy leader, Peter Robinson.
"People might think we're very different but he's one of my closest friends.
We both joined the Young Democrats as teenagers.
"The only annoying thing about him is that new technology has passed him by.
Sammy doesn't have a radio, he has a wireless. He can't work a DVD player
or a computer. He can't e-mail.
"He can just about push the little green button to answer his phone but he
doesn't realise that 'mobile' means taking it with you. He leaves his phone
at home a lot." "Oh, I don't answer when I see Peter's number because it
means either work or trouble!" replies Wilson.
A former head of economics at Grosvenor High School, he taught from an old
armchair until the head made him throw it out because mice were living
inside it. Despite his mischievousness, the East Antrim MP shouldn't be
under-estimated intellectually. On economic, environment and education
issues, he is first-class.
He grew up in East Belfast, the son of a labourer. His stance on many issues
led to the nickname 'Red Sammy'. Unlike other DUP colleagues, he opposed
the Iraq War.
Despite his gregarious nature, he loves living alone, "not having to report
to anybody". The move from Belfast to East Antrim was huge psychologically
but now he loves the solitude of rural life. Two Christmases ago, he
planted 2,000 trees in the fields surrounding his home: "I wanted my own wee
forest."
He has an allotment near Stormont Castle. During political negotiations,
he'd nip out at lunch to "have a bit of craic and a mug of tea with the
boys".
Christmases are spent with the Salvation Army in East Belfast. He loves art
and has several paintings by his window-cleaner whom he says is the North's
LS Lowry.
A teeotaller for reasons of taste, not religion, he enjoys curries – "the
hotter and spicier the better" – Ulster fries, fish and chips "by Bangor
sea-front", red meat, and chocolate. "I eat late and don't exercise but I
eat my own organic vegetables which I hope cancels out the bad habits".
He's famous for controversial comments about Sinn Féin, the Irish language,
and the GAA. Peter Robinson doesn't reckon Westminster will tame him:
"Sammy is destined to become one of the great characters of the House of
Commons."
Conor Murphy is regarded as one of the rising stars in Sinn Féin. He comes
from
a well-known republican family in south Armagh. He dedicated his election
victory to his late father.
Sinn Féin's new Newry and Armagh MP was sentenced to five years'
imprisonment for IRA membership and possession of explosive substances with
intent to endanger life in 1982. He was acquitted on charges of conspiracy
to murder RUC officers.
Murphy (41) is a graduate of the University of Ulster and Queen's University
Belfast where he studied for a masters in Irish politics. He became involved
with Sinn Féin during the 1981 hunger-strike when he campaigned for anti-H
Block candidates.
He was elected to Newry and Mourne District Council in 1989 and has been
leader of the Sinn Féin group there. He was elected to the Northern Ireland
Assembly in 1998 and is a former Sinn Féin chief whip.
He lives in Camlough with his wife and two children. He is a regular face on
Sinn Féin's negotiating team. Internally, Murphy is seen as a political
moderate and a strong supporter of the peace process who is extremely loyal
to the leadership.
He is the archetypal safe pair of hands. He is viewed as very capable, with
a somewhat technocratic image.
Nobody should expect diplomacy from the new SDLP MP for South Belfast. Dr
Alasdair McDonnell is renowned in his Lower Ormeau practice for berating
patients with unhealthy lifestyles.
If they smoke or drink too much, or are substantially overweight, he isn't
shy about letting rip. He admits he can be abrupt but doesn't think that's
necessarily a bad thing.
Within his own party, even the mention of his name can raise strong
emotions. Some admire their deputy leader for his enthusiasm in challenging
Sinn Féin. Others think him too combative and fear he will alienate voters.
He certainly didn't this time. He was outspoken in his disgust at the Robert
McCartney murder which he describes as one of the worst in the history of
the conflict. Sinn Féin served a libel writ on him for comments after the
killing.
McDonnell (55) is no stranger to tragedy himself. He grew up on a farm in
Glenariff, Co Antrim, the eldest of 11. He first stood for election 30 years
ago. The Rev Ian Paisley won. During the campaign, McDonnell's brother
Randal (13) was struck by lightning when up a mountain.
McDonnell's father carried him for a mile in his arms but he was already
dead. Later, another brother, Seamus (30), was electrocuted by an electric
blanket. McDonnell says these experiences gave him perspective and showed
him the decency of people to those in pain.
He was a precocious child, passing the 11-plus examination aged 10. He
studied medicine at UCD. He didn't' marry wife Olivia, a social worker,
until he was 47. They dated for only a few months. They had been introduced
years earlier but had never "inspected each other".
There had been a mutual attraction but they had filed each other away in the
"worth following-up drawer". Until Olivia, he had reconciled himself to
single life. The Troubles was a major obstacle to romantic involvement, he
says, because he had been under threats from paramilitaries on both sides
and didn't want to risk anyone else's safety.
He has jokingly described his marriage as "a fringe benefit of the peace
process". Olivia is pregnant with their fourth child and is hugely
supportive of her husband.
They live in a magnificent old house in the plush Malone Road. McDonnell's
hobbies include the GAA and skiing. He also has various business interests,
although he plays these down as a means to providing local employment.
After the IRA killed two leading loyalists on the Ormeau Road in 1994,
McDonnell caused local nationalist anger by suggesting residents avoid
retaliatory attacks by taking themselves off to caravans by the seaside for
a fortnight.
At the time, he owned a travel agency and there was talk of swamping the
premises and demanding free foreign holidays. McDonnell denies it but their
very different personalities mean he and Mark Durkan don't always get on.
The South Belfast MP isn't afraid of a challenge and is known for his thick
skin. He fought seven Westminster election campaigns before perseverance
paid off.
He always enjoyed elections, even those he lost: "I leave them emotionally
and physically exhausted but refreshed. I love the whole buzz, meeting and
talking to people. I can even tolerate a bit of abuse. It's part of the rich
fabric of life."
