ConservativesNI.net

As Conservatives we are trying to create a new politics for a new Northern Ireland.  It’s time that politicians started focusing on issues that matter to people - rather than the same old tribal arguments.  We need to be aware that there is a big world outside the Assembly.  And Northern Ireland is more than capable of playing its part in that world – given the talent of its people.  And it’s this talent that the Conservative Party too wants to tap into. 

We have been vocal in our support to maintain academic selection in Northern Ireland and our local Conservative Party members have worked hard within the pressure groups to help to retain academic selection and the ethos of Northern Ireland’s fine Grammar and Secondary schools – schools that serve all communities.  But we will also do everything we can to ensure that standards overall are improved and that Northern Ireland’s reputation for excellence at GCSE and A Level is enhanced. 

Prior to the restoration of devolution Conservatives were vocal about the proposed rates legislation for Northern Ireland – and is of the view that Labour will attempt to force this system across the UK.  It is unashamedly using the people of Northern Ireland as guinea pigs.  To propose a capital value based system without an upper cap was vindictive and out of line with policy in other parts of the UK.

However, we are most concern with Labour policy in relation to its stealth taxes.  In the most recent budget massive increases in vehicle excise duty will affect 70% of drivers here.  Amendments to corporation tax will hurt our smallest businesses.  Indeed Labour policies often hurt us even more than our counterparts in the rest of the UK.   

But in a strange way these ill-considered pieces of legislation have resulted in the emergence of well-run and articulate groups like the Fair Rates Campaign and the Association for Quality Education.  We are delighted to have played our part in working with these organisations and bringing issues to the attention of MPs and peers on all benches in both houses.  We have also worked closely with the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland and have relied on that organisation to guide us in terms of lobbying for amendments to proposed legislation.  We await with interest to hear how the Assembly will resolve the Rates and Water Rates issues.

David Cameron in his Conservative Party Conference speech in Blackpool in October 2006 talked about government empowering and supporting the community rather than always directing or telling people what to do.  This attitude, policy, approach to doing things would apply here too.  We want to nurture talent, community mindedness, co-operation.  All of these elements of our society need support here too.  It will be a defining difference of a Conservative approach. 

As a democratic Party we are active in every part of the United Kingdom – and be in no doubt that we want to be a major force in politics here.  In a quiet way we are achieving that.  Our Shadow Secretary of State, Owen Paterson MP, has been very active in the Commons against the worst excesses of Labour policy here.  But our people here, in the constituencies, are getting stronger and more organised every day.  An embryonic Conservative Future organisation has even been established here - mostly drawing from students at Queen’s or the University of Ulster.  Our Shadow Minister for Defence, Mark Harper MP, spoke at their first meeting in Belfast.  With so many young people involved in the Party locally we’re breaking new ground.  We are also holding Conservative Business Relations meetings - chaired by well-known local businessman, Tim Lewis. 

We have attracted several former members of other parties – including an elected councillor, Peter Bowles, and a former MLA and Minister in the Assembly, James Leslie.  We recognise that many in our Party locally who could not countenance joining any local political Party and could only feel at home in a great Party like the Conservative Party.  By the same token, some members of other Parties could not countenance joining us.  But, in time, our offer will become more and more compelling as we win more and more influence.

There are many good and hard working people in all the local political Parties.  But the Conservative Party is unique as it is the only Party organised here that could form the next government of the United Kingdom.

We would hope that in time Labour will come to its senses and recognise that people here are not born sectarian.  Rather they face the same issues, challenges and hopes as people across these islands and nations. 

The Conservative Party is the only national political party that organises and contests elections in Northern Ireland.  Our members are people who believe that if Northern Ireland is to progress its citizens need to take part in the political processes of the country in which they live – not just the region of the country in which they live.

The alternative is that people here in Northern Ireland are perpetually doomed to a political debate that is dominated by one topic – the border.  However, the Agreement settled that issue.  The two governments have created binding commitments that Northern Ireland will remain part of the United Kingdom unless and until a majority of Northern Ireland’s electorate wish it to be otherwise.  And yet our local politicians appear to be fixated with the same old debate.

Our view is that we need to move on.  We need, as a region of the United Kingdom, to start focusing on real issues that matter to people here.  And we also need to develop better and closer relations with our nearest geographical neighbour - the Republic of Ireland.  However, we also need to look beyond these shores.  We must recognise that while it is easy to become absorbed with our own problems there is a need to recognise that we are only a small part of a huge planet with its own problems. 

Like every other part of the world we must wake up to the fact that there are big challenges facing us.  There is the threat of climate change.  There is the issue of massive divergences in wealth.  There is the ever-present threat of international terrorism.  Unless we start to focus on these more pressing issues – as well as our own problems - then our people will not be heard and will not contribute.

And that would be unfortunate.  Northern Irish men and women have contributed much to this world.  Our scientists and inventors have made it a better place.  We have contributed much to the arts, to business and to sport.  But in politics it is unfortunate that we are most often associated with sectarianism.

This need not be the case.  Our people are no different from those in any other modern democracy.  They have the same desires – they want to be safe, prosperous and happy.  They want to ensure that the beauty of this place is protected for their children and grandchildren.  They want to be sure that their successors can expect the same standards of education and social provision that they have come to expect for themselves.  They also want to ensure that this can be a place to be proud of.

It is in this context that we propose our manifesto.  It recognises that all our people, of all faiths and none, regardless of their income, sex or sexuality, their age or the colour of their skin – all our people – can contribute and play a part in this new Northern Ireland.

We want to create a new politics for a new Northern Ireland.  And this is where we intend to start.