Naomi Long’s party says that the Good Friday Agreement institutions are “now holding back progress” and they want to “prevent any one party from holding them hostage ever again”. The party says it is “committed to the principles and spirit” of the Good Friday Agreement, but believes its structures were meant to evolve. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
It proposes new rules for selecting a first and deputy first minister – and introducing a ‘weighted majority’ for Assembly votes – which will change after each election to “ensure it includes unionists, nationalists and others”. It does not specify whether a majority of each of these designations would need to be included – and the DUP would be concerned that such changes would effectively exclude the party as it often takes different stances on social issues from Alliance and nationalists. Launching the manifesto, Naomi Long said the current system of government is “toxic”.
“The old saying is ‘turkeys don’t vote for Christmas’ ...
if you can influence that kind of power and control, it’s unlikely you’re going to put your hand up and say ‘yes, let’s give that away, let’s give that leverage away,” Ms Long told party supporters at the launch event on the outskirts of Belfast . Advertisement Advertisement “But it’s incredibly toxic in terms of how we .