And what is the appropriate box?
I've spent time ensuring that my online persona is non-controversial. For me, that means no swearing, no religious talk and no political talk. People are entitled to their beliefs whether religious or political and my views don't really need to be voiced. But today, I'm making an exception. Why? Well, a general election is just a handful of weeks away and assessing the political landscape is rather current! Plus I don't intend to me too controversial.
In England, voters have a choice between left, centre and right when it comes to political views. But I live in Northern Ireland where the choice is limited to green, orange and other.
Northern Ireland politicians typically align themselves with either an orange Unionist stance (where the candidate advocates keeping Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom) and a green Nationalist stance (where the candidate advocates a single Irish state). These stances have also aligned themselves with religious beliefs - Protestant Unionists and Catholic Nationalists (although that is not to say that there aren't Protestant Nationalists and Catholic Unionists as I know plenty of both).
For many in Northern Ireland, the issue of unionism versus nationalism means precious little. I, for one, don't particularly care too much and have a c'est la vie approach. I believe that "we are where we are" and that a democratic solution should prevail. Right now, the majority in Northern Ireland are happy with the status quo. I am, therefore, happy too. Should the majority want a united Ireland, then so be it.
For me, the important things needing addressing right now are:
- Northern Ireland's economy
- Academic Selection
- Green Issues
The manifesto leaflets have started to appear through my letterbox. The party political broadcasts have been shown on television. The grotesque banners are attached to every lamp-post in the street. So now is the time to analyse the parties and judge them against the things that interest me.
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
A vote for the SDLP is a vote for reconciliation and partnership according to their manifesto leaflet, which is riddled with grammar errors. Should I vote for a party in the hope they can address education issues knowing that they don't know how to write their own manifesto? Unfortunately, the manifesto launches into orange and green rhetoric using terms such as "poisonous" and "bitter relationships" and doesn't actually touch on the real issues affecting real people. And, of course, the SDLP doesn't seem all inclusive to me as it still seeks a united Ireland. Were they to start to concentrate on the real issues affecting all communities within this country, then I may have a different view.
Ulster Conservatives & Unionists - New Force
Any political party who thinks it is a good idea to have the word Force in their name is not going to grab my attention in a positive way. However, I do like the idea that they are engaged (in a small way) with mainstream mainland politics. A normalisation of politics has got to be a good thing, right?
Democratic Unionist Party
I don't want to bash Peter Robinson as I think he's a reasonable statesman who speaks quite well. He's a man under a lot of pressure, admittedly, and his wife's antics won't have helped. But it seems to me that the D.U.P. concentrate too much on the orange issue and are riddled with Presbyterian ministers who should be spending time tending to their flock rather than meddling in issues they no nothing about. I want political leaders who are not homophobic, religious fundamentalists thank you very much! Please... live and let live.
Sinn Fein
Any political party who puts forward election candidates who would be in jail in any other country in the world should not deserve a vote. And any political party who wants to stand in an election but will refuse to actually take their seat? The mind boggles! Having said that, I have a lot of time for Sinn Fein. I love listening to Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Their rhetoric is very powerful and it is easy to see why they get votes. But from a manifesto perspective, they don't tick my boxes. They have a very long way to go when it comes to convincing non-Republicans of their credentials.
Alliance Party
Finally... a political party standing in my constituency which doesn't have either an orange or a green agenda. And a manifesto leaflet with translations for Chinese and Polish communities. A manifesto which makes it clear that the border is not on the agenda and that the real issues that needing addressing are the issues that affect the normal "man on the street". But tribal politics will mean that they haven't a mission of getting elected. Westminster has only ever seen one Alliance Party MP (and I don't believe he was elected, but rather defected from the Unionists).
Independent
We have an independent standing in our constituency. I have no idea what his policies are. I can't possibly make a comment about this person but I do hope I get a leaflet or some idea of his policies soon so I can make an informed judgement on who should get my vote.
The best party political broadcast I've seen so far as been by The Green Party. Unfortunately, no Green candidate has been put forward to contest the North Belfast seat. Why?
Summary
The North Belfast constituency will undoubtedly return a unionist MP - Nigel Dodds (DUP) or Fred Cobain (UCU - NF). The constituency has existed for 125 years and has always returned either a Conservative or Unionist MP (although Stratton Mills defected to the Alliance Party for the last year of his tenure as an MP in 1973). It's hard to see that a vote for anyone other than Nigel Dodds or Fred Cobain will make any difference. But conforming would be no fun and will only perpetuate the tribalism we have come to almost accept.
In England, there is a choice of left, centre or right. I envy them such a choice.
That said, there's still time for the parties to sway me.
