Government 'storing up crises' if no Stormont reform
Naomi Long was speaking at the launch of her party's manifesto for the upcoming election
- Published
The next government will be “storing up crises” at Stormont if it does not implement reform of the institutions, Alliance’s leader has said.
Naomi Long was speaking at the launch of the party's manifesto for the UK general election on 4 July.
It includes pledges to continue pressing for reform of the Stormont institutions and better financial support for Northern Ireland.
The party is running candidates in all 18 constituencies and is also defending the North Down seat it won in 2019.
'Abuse' of democracy
Its deputy leader Stephen Farry won the seat for the party for the first time five years ago.
Speaking on Thursday, Mrs Long said the “honeymoon period” of Stormont’s return was over and that lethargy was building, which left unaddressed could lead to potential destabilisation in the future.
“Those challenges require not just change at the assembly but support from Westminster to deliver better,” she said.
Alliance has two ministers in the Stormont executive.
Mrs Long holds the justice portfolio.
She said her party would continue to push for change while working in the power-sharing executive, arguing that use of cross-community mechanisms such as the petition of concern is an “abuse” of democracy and needs to be reformed.
'Cycle of crisis and collapse'
Mrs Long added that her party had won the intellectual argument for reform, and that the Irish government was already supportive of changes.
“If other parties have better proposals let’s see them but we need to end this cycle of crisis and collapse,” she added.
She also said that the upcoming election was “not just a chance to rid ourselves of the current government but to hold to account local parties who supported worst excesses of the Conservative government and their most corrosive policies”.
“People are yearning for a change for better public services and investment in their future,” she added.
Mrs Long also said she was not urging people to vote tactically next month, but said voters should choose whoever they felt would best represent them at Westminster.
In the last assembly election, Alliance secured its best ever result and gained 9 seats, making it the third largest party in Northern Ireland.
What is in Alliance’s manifesto?
Some of the party's manifesto pledges include:
Reforming the assembly and executive so no one party can hold the institutions to ransom
Delivering an improved financial settlement for Northern Ireland that allows investment in public services
Creating a Green New Deal to decarbonise our economy, tackle fuel poverty and protect workers
Repairing the UK-EU relationship including pressing the government to negotiate a comprehensive Veterinary agreement
Securing dedicated funding for integrated education
- Published7 June
- Published13 June
