At the annual Alliance Party conference in Belfast, leader Naomi Long warned that failure to reform the power-sharing institutions at Stormont would have “real-world consequences.” She called on the Northern Ireland Secretary to do “heavy lifting” on the issue to prevent any future collapse. The Alliance Party has called for changes to Northern Ireland’s political system to prevent one party from blocking the formation of an executive in the future. Long also suggested restructuring Stormont’s voting structures to end “mutually reinforced vetoes.”
Long’s comments echoed those made by Irish deputy PM Micheál Martin at the conference on Friday. Martin also called for structural reform of Stormont, stating that “it makes sense” to look at reform now. Mrs Long welcomed his remarks and stressed that tinkering around the edges of reform would be “merely a sticking plaster” that will not hold.
Alliance has been buoyed by recent electoral successes, and although it has won votes, it faces the immediate challenge of following through on its promises of change. The party is seeking significant changes to the structures of Stormont while operating from within them, with changes requiring agreement from all Stormont parties. Long stated that for confidence in sustainable government to be established, sustainable government itself was a necessity.
Long also criticized the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, saying the government “has nothing left to offer but tax cuts for the rich and misery for the rest.” She called for a General Election, stating it was the only thing the “morally bankrupt” government could do to protect democracy fully. The party, which currently has 17 assembly members (MLAs) at Stormont, was entitled to two ministerial jobs in the executive when it was re-formed, with Long being re-elected as Stormont’s justice minister
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