
Anne McCloskey to step down as Aontú Councillor on Derry City Council
Dr Anne McCloskey has decided to step down as Aontú Councillor on Derry and Strabane District Council. Announcing her intention to step down from the council in the coming weeks Dr McCloskey stated;
“It has been a privilege to serve the people of Derry at Council for the last 17 months especially so as a member of the new All Ireland movement Aontú. In that time I have done my best to make sure that our values of Life, Irish Unity and Economic Justice have had a strong voice on Derry City Council”.
“I have also focused on the massive economic difficulties that exist here in the north west due to years of underfunding by Unionist parties and SF and the SDLP. I have worked hard to put the Derry on the map for Jobs and University investment. I will be stepping down as a Councillor to facilitate a new Aontú Councillor to take the reins. My views on Covid-19 are different from Aontú and as a result I am stepping down from this role. I am however committed to Aontú’s development in the future and will remain an active member”.
On hearing of Dr McCloskey’s decision Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín stated;
“Anne is held in enormous respect, as a brave and courageous friend and comrade throughout Aontú. Indeed Anne has that rare quality in Irish politics she has a back bone and is not afraid to question and challenge the status quo. We were delighted to have had Anne as a founding member of our movement just 22 months ago. Anne is a woman of conviction and has never held back in terms of effort as a doctor, as an elected rep and as a party activist. We thank her for all her help in the past and look forward to working with her in the future”.
“Aontú will hold a selection convention in Derry in the coming weeks to Co-opt a successor to Anne on Derry City Council. These will big boots to fill but with Anne’s help we look forward to continuing to go from strength to strength in Derry”.