From Unity, 24 February 2007

Prepared to resist?

by John Pinkerton

Last week saw nearly 250 candidates pay their £150 deposit and lodge their nomination papers for the Assembly election, which will return 108 MLAs across eighteen constituencies on 7 March. Most of the candidates come from the leading parties of the orange and green political blocks. There are 46 DUP candidates, 38 Ulster Unionist, 37 Sinn Féin, and 35 SDLP.
     There are other candidates, of course: 18 Alliance, 13 Green Party, 9 Conservative, 6 Workers’ Party, 3 PUP, 2 Socialist Party, and a handful of other parties standing just one candidate, including the Socialist Environmental Alliance, fielding Éamonn McCann again in Foyle. Although the anti-Belfast Agreement UKUP are standing 13 candidates, 6 of them are McCartney himself, standing in different constituencies—the logical step for his one-man outfit!
     There are also 26 independent candidates. That includes six Republican Sinn Féin candidates, because they are not registered as a political party with the Electoral Office. In the past the Communist Party has challenged that democratic restriction which gives the state the authority to define what is or is not a political party. Another restriction on the basis of age was only overturned under challenge by the People Before Profit candidate, who is under 21.
     The DUP continue to huff and puff on the detail of the St Andrews deal. Last week it was the on-the-runs, and next week no doubt there will be something else. But all the parties know that only the Belfast Agreement can give them the power that they are promising their electorates.
     The credibility of local politicians will be badly undermined if a power-sharing executive is not formed on 26 March. The so called Plan B, a green-tinged direct rule with an emphasis on cross-border co-operation, or the Plan C of direct rule with an orange tinge, where the North is treated like English county, are not sustainable options.
     The key question to put to candidates is what they and their parties intend to do with the powers of the Assembly. With the constitutional arrangements set by the Belfast Agreement, “bread and butter” issues are clearly coming to the fore in this election. The economy, poverty, water charges, rate increases, housing, education and the health service are issues which all parties know they have to take a position on.
     There is surprising consensus on the need for the British to ensure sufficient funds to address these issues. But this runs against New Labour’s aim for devolution, which sees local assemblies taking responsibility for foisting costs for public/privatised services onto local communities or making the cut-backs and taking the political heat.
     So will the parties vying for votes be prepared to lead resisitence to that policy inside and outside of the Assembly? Ask them.

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