Substance over hype

This time next week the election will be over. The votes will have been registered and will be in the process of being counted. Sinn Féin is looking forward to being returned as the largest nationalist party in the North.

In these last few days, candidates are doing the rounds of their constituencies, asking people to make sure they use their vote next Wednesday, and if they could, to vote for their party.

In Sinn Féin's case, candidates will be reminding their constituents of all the hard work they have put in over the years, and promising to continue with those efforts. They will be pointing to Sinn Féin's record in pursuing the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and to the party's role as the driving force behind the peace process.

But while Sinn Féin is assiduously canvassing the doorsteps and publicly unveiling a raft of policies, the other parties have been at their publicity grabbing best, attempting any stunt that might get them in the papers or on the television.

Tuesday saw the leaders of the two largest unionist parties trading insults in an embarrassing public display. That morning, the DUP 'battle bus' had pulled up outside the UUP headquarters to put up election posters.

Having been flatly refused his desired television debate, Trimble decided to seize the opportunity of having Paisley on his doorstep and the ten-minute screaming match ensued.

Not to be outdone by unionists trying to outdo each other with insults, the SDLP, the party who'll take and make transfers to anyone, from anywhere, as long as it's not republicans, were out with lollipop-like sticks entitled 'Stop the DUP'. Another glossy display from the all-image, no-substance SDLP.

As everyone knows, elections can't be won in a few weeks. The fact remains that Sinn Féin has put in the work to ensure the seats. Our candidates don't just start up a month in advance of a campaign, and they don't finish when they've got their seats, as our MLAs and ministers in the last Assembly showed.

Our political vision stretches beyond this election. Building An Ireland of Equals is so much more than a slogan.

There is a quiet confidence among republicans in the Six Counties this week but no room for complacency. Let's work hard in the coming days to make sure it's followed by loud celebrations next weekend.