UUP can’t see centre ground from sectarian swamp: Ford

Alliance leader David Ford has responded to the suggestion by Roy Beggs that Alliance voters should back the UUP against the DUP by denying that the UUP belongs to ‘the centre ground’. David Ford said: “Mr Beggs has clearly listened to part of what I said on BBC TV, but he didn’t get the message. […]

Adams’ Speech Leaves Ambiguities Says Ford

Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, responding to Gerry Adam’s ‘speech directed at the IRA’ has stated that it fails to address crucial ambiguities regarding commitments from Republicans to common standards of democracy, human right and the rule of law. David Ford said: “People have a right to be sceptical about the future intentions of the […]

“Invest in water, not war”: Close

ALLIANCE Finance Spokesperson Seamus Close MLA has criticised Minister Ian Person’s statement that Northern Ireland will face a budget shortfall if new water charges are not introduced. Mr Close stated: “Minister Pearson can’t distinguish between fact and fiction when it comes to disinvestment in water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. “His Government, which has […]

Dickinson should admit he was wrong: Alderdice

ALLIANCE’S David Alderdice has condemned a joke made by Rev Stephen Dickinson about the Pope, in which he mimicked the Pope’s Parkinson’s disease. Councillor Alderdice said: “While you might expect certain Protestant leaders to make fun of the Pope and offend Catholics, to manage to offend Catholics and Parkinson’s sufferers in one fell swoop is […]

Ford looks forward to General Election

Speaking after the Prime Minister announced the General Election date as May 5, Alliance Leader David Ford said: “This election is the people’s chance to give their verdict on the right way forward for Northern Ireland. “Everyone is frustrated that so little progress has occurred in recent years. Both unionist parties and both nationalist parties […]

Alliance MLA to hand over dossier of Metro complaints to Consumer Council

EAST Belfast Assembly member and Councillor, Naomi Long, has said that the 541 complaints generated by Translink’s new Metro bus service doesn’t include hundreds of signatures on her petition calling for the restoration of the Mount Merrion link, nor the 70 complaints about other services in East Belfast. Cllr Long said: “Last week I handed […]