“No need for Antrim library closures”: Lawther

Alliance local government candidate, Alan Lawther, has stated there is ‘simply no need’ for library closures in Antrim. The Antrim South East representative stated: “The library is a valuable resource for the local community and the consultation meeting has indicated there needs to be a reworking of the Education Board’s review document. “Our calculations are […]

Alderdice looking forward to ‘close race’

Alliance Westminster candidate David Alderdice has said that North Down is a ‘three-way race’. Speaking in Bangor on Tuesday evening, Dr Alderdice stated: “There is no doubt the people I’ve met across North Down are fed up with political stagnation, but they are not resigned to it. “People are determined to make progress, people are […]

Duncan slams library closure threat

Castlereagh West Alliance Councillor, Sara Duncan, has condemned Southern Education and Library Board plans to close Belvoir Library and said that she will campaign to save the facility. Cllr Duncan said: “I am very dismayed to learn that SELB are proposing to close Belvoir Library. Belvoir Park, with 1800 households, has no community centre, so […]

Alliance: Board and Minister must work together for Belfast ethnic minorities

East Belfast Assembly Member and Alliance Party Education Spokesperson, Cllr Naomi Long, and Laganbank Alliance representative, Allan Leonard, have called upon the Minister responsible for Education and the Belfast Education and Library Board, to work together for the benefit of pupils from ethnic minorities in Belfast. Earlier today, Naomi Long and Allan Leonard led a […]

SDLP have to choose between inclusivity and integrity

Responding to the statement from SDLP Leader, Mark Durkan, at his Manifesto launch in which he once again dismissed forming a voluntary coalition, Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has asked the SDLP how they plan to resolve the dilemma of what happens when inclusivity and integrity are in conflict. David Ford stated: “The SDLP say […]

“Only Alliance can stop water charges and regional rate hikes”: Alderdice

Only Alliance can deliver the political and financial package required to avoid water charges, regional rate hikes and tuition fees, claimed North Down candidate David Alderdice today. Dr Alderdice stated: “We have heard a lot of bluster about how everyone opposes water charges and other forms of regressive taxation from other parties. What we have […]

Alliance to lead delegation to BELB chief over proposed cuts to EAL Support Unit

East Belfast Assembly Member and Alliance Party Education Spokesperson, Cllr Naomi Long, and Laganbank Alliance representative, Allan Leonard, are to lead a delegation to meet the Chair of the Belfast Education and Library Board to express their concern at proposed cuts to the English as an Additional Language Support Unit. The unit provides support for […]

Council offices ‘our very own Millennium Dome’: Lawther

Alan Lawther, Alliance local council candidate for Antrim South East, has branded plans for new civic offices in Antrim as a ‘white elephant’. Mr Lawther stated: ‘Antrim’s ratepayers faced the highest rates increase in Northern Ireland last year. ‘From this money, provision is being made for a “new civic building”, costing £6 million – nearly […]

Rice slams SDLP ‘hypocrisy’

Responding to a protest and statement by Alisdair McDonnell, Alliance Westminster candidate Geraldine Rice MLA has said that his protests outside Castlereagh Borough Council are ‘hypocritical’, and the idea of compulsory division of council posts is ‘simply unworkable’. Speaking in her South Belfast constituency, Cllr Rice said: “This is yet more hypocrisy. The fact is […]

Alliance concern at library threat in Gilnahirk, Braniel and Tullycarnet

Alliance Party representatives in East Belfast have expressed their concern over a potential threat to the future of libraries at Gilnahirk, Braniel and Tullycarnet. Cllr Naomi Long, Alliance Party Education spokesperson and East Belfast Assembly Member, recently campaigned successfully with local library users to lift the threat of closure from Ballyhackamore Library. Naomi Long said, […]