Alliance excluded from chairmanships in Castlereagh for highlighting Unionist Shared Future shortcomings

The DUP and UUP have excluded Alliance from Chairmanships on Castlereagh Council at the AGM , citing the fact that they were unhappy at Castlereagh Alliance Councillor Michael Long highlighting the fact that their decision to elect a UUP Mayor and DUP Mayor and exclude Alliance from the top posts was hardly demonstrating a commitment to a shared future.

Cllr Michael Long said: “The AGM was yet another example of the failure of the Unionist parties on Castlereagh Council to share power. At the meeting, Alliance were again excluded from the top posts whilst the UUP were elected to the position of Mayor, having already had the deputy last year, despite having received less than half the votes of Alliance.

“At the meeting, I simply highlighted how this rather undermined the superficial efforts of the DUP and UUP to embrace change, fairness and equality and that it was quite clear that for all their talk of a shared future the leopards had not changed their spots.

“Unfortunately, the DUP decided that they did not like having this fact highlighted and promptly announced that they would be excluding Alliance from all Chairmanships, which carry a special responsibility allowance.

“I would like to make it clear- the Alliance Party won’t be bullied into keeping quiet. Others may be prepared to do whatever the DUP wants but Alliance will not be silenced.”

ENDS