Laois TD Brian Stanley has officially announced his intention to contest the upcoming General Election as an Independent candidate.
Deputy Stanley went a step further, specifying that he will be running as and “Independent Republican.”
The news comes less than three weeks after Deputy Stanley resigned from Sinn Féin, having been embroiled in controversy within his now former party.
“Having been out around the county over the past three weeks, I have been encouraged by countless people from various backgrounds to put my name forward as an Independent and who have pledged their support,” Deputy Stanley said.
“I have also received commitments of assistance with campaigning from people in all areas, including those who have resigned from Sinn Féin.
“I will be standing on a platform of progressive republican policies and if elected will be working to improve public services, protect workers and families, and address the housing crisis.”
Stanley has been a TD for Laois-Offaly since 2011 and was first elected to Laois County Council in 1999.
“To the best of my ability, I will use the experience gained over 12 years as a Councillor and almost 14 years as a TD, to represent the interests of the people of Laois in the Dáil,” Deputy Stanley said.
“I pledge 100% commitment to serving their interests and to campaigning for a fairer society.
“I want to sincerely thank the people in Laois and Offaly who have supported me in successive elections and for the many kind messages sent to me and my family over the past few weeks.
“In the recent past, there has been a sustained attempt by a micro group, with their own agenda, to carry out a campaign of character assignation against me and damage my reputation.
“I am prepared to stand on my record of work of over 4 decades of political activism and let the good people of Laois judge for themselves whether I should represent them in the thirty fourth Dáil.”
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