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N Ireland: Young Candidates, Old Concerns

The youngest election candidates from Northern Ireland's five main parties have expressed their desire for a new kind of politics.

There are two unionist parties, two nationalist and one neutral and the fresh faces among them hope to break the political stalemate.

Gary Middleton, 24, whose Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) could hold the balance of power in a hung parliament, said: "What we need to do now is encourage more young people to get involved in politics and yes, people will say well, those people that are elected are not representing the young people.

"What I would say to that is there's your opportunity to put your name forward, to put your name on the ballot paper and stand for election."

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Alexander Redpath, 26, from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), added: "I just want to say that I'm a new generation of politician bringing a new generation of politics to Northern Ireland.

"I want to break the cycle and the narrative of bickering and arguing, of dysfunctionality and I want to replace it with a very clear vision of what I want for Northern Ireland."

Irish republicans could inadvertently elect the next British government by refusing to take their seats, thus reducing the required majority.

Sinn Fein's youngest candidate describes the new politicians on the election campaign trail as the "hidden gem" and the "key to the future".

Catherine Seeley, 27, said: "At the minute, I think we're kind of stuck and we're not going to move forward unless we all sit down with one another, we admit wrongs, we all say sorry to one another for the wrongs that were committed and wrongs are committed in war, wrongs are committed in conflict, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't say sorry for it."

Daniel McCrossan, 26, from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), added: "I believe that my generation are sick, sore and tired of listening to the same old excuses from dinosaur politicians that are dictating about the past.

"This is about the future. This is about the present. This is about what we can do with this place, with the peace that we have to make it better and stronger to deliver for everyone."

Alliance holds the middle ground - its youngest candidate was just three years old when political parties signed the Good Friday Agreement 17 years ago.

Stephen Donnelly, 20, explained: "Although I've lived most of my life in a post-conflict society, I recognise that there is still a need for reconciliation and personally, as a young person who became involved in politics, I felt that Alliance was the only party that was serious about actually advancing that agenda of reconciliation."

All five would-be members of parliament have grown up in a very different Northern Ireland but progress towards normality has been slow.

These young politicians are grappling with ancient divisions while attempting to shift the focus to the issues of their day.

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