At a special meeting of the Party Council held in the Park Avenue Hotel tonight, over 120 Party Council delegates supported the party leadership’s position, which followed the DUP and Sinn Fein’s rejection of Alliance’s proposals based on its ‘five steps’ from its manifesto.
“Tonight’s meeting was not only well attended but there was a passionate commitment from members that the party had a primary duty to do what is in the best interests of all of Northern Ireland” said Deputy Leader Naomi Long.
“Members endorsed the proposals which we submitted to DUP and Sinn Fein which they recognised would have radically changed Northern Ireland in terms of governance, building an integrated society, strengthening our economy, dealing with the costs of division and crucially addressing legacy issues and paramilitarism to allow our community to move forward.
“Given the DUP and Sinn Fein response to those proposals, the view of leadership was that we could not recommend an Alliance MLA to take the Justice Minister role, and that view was endorsed this evening.
“Whether in government or in opposition, we will not be deflected from delivering ambitious change for our community and it is clear that Alliance is energised about progressing that agenda.”