Unionists are demanding democratic adjustments to the Belfast Agreement as the price of their continued participation, an Ulster Unionist Assembly member said yesterday. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, reports.
Mr George Savage, a colleague of Mr David Trimble in Upper Bann, said there should be no further secret talks between parties, and called for the review process, timetabled for next month, to be "fully democratised".
"The UUP must now work to improve the Good Friday agreement, and make changes to it so that it becomes more acceptable to the unionist people," he said.
He listed these changes, including a new mechanism for choosing an executive and the need to reconsider whether there should be what he called "a voluntary or enforced coalition government". Mr Savage also said there was a need for an effective opposition, and for restraints on "the over-mighty power of ministers".
The Woman's Coalition said yesterday that tackling child poverty would top its priorities in any Assembly. The coalition's North Belfast candidate, Ms Eliz Byrne McCullough, said: "Four out of 10 children live in poverty, and tackling this situation will be our first priority in the new Assembly."
The party also called for the abolition of the 11-plus exam, and for additional resources for youth workers, clubs, sports and leisure facilities.
The Ulster Unionists warned that unionist patience was being strained by what Mr Michael McGimpsey called "republican obstinacy". Claiming there was still unionist appetite for the accord, he said such support was dependent upon "acts of completion".
"There will be no return to government until the republican movement take the final steps that are necessary to unlock the current impasse."
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