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Defiant Labour rebels vow to resist privatisation and corporation tax cut

The Northern Ireland Labour Representative Committee's manifesto pledges to resist a cut in corporation tax. Picture by Hugh Russell
The Northern Ireland Labour Representative Committee's manifesto pledges to resist a cut in corporation tax. Picture by Hugh Russell The Northern Ireland Labour Representative Committee's manifesto pledges to resist a cut in corporation tax. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE Labour Party 'rebels' running eight candidates in next week's assembly election say they will oppose a cut in corporation tax if elected.

The Northern Ireland Labour Representation Committee is contesting the Stormont poll after becoming frustrated over a long-standing block on a party affiliated to Labour in Britain running candidates in the north.

Labour's national executive committee is conducting a review of its policy, however, its outcome will not be known until later this year. The Labour Representative Committee, which is defying Labour's London headquarters, says it will dissolve once its parent party registers in the north.

However, a letter to the candidates from Labour official Iain McNichol has warned that any member who supports another political organisation "shall automatically be ineligible to be or remain a member of the party".

The committee, which is headed by Kathryn Johnston, the wife of late Belfast Telegraph political editor Liam Clarke, launched its manifesto yesterday in Belfast and remains determined to run in next week's election.

Its manifesto includes a pledge to resist corporation tax and believes that if the policy is adopted, the executive should publish an annual balance sheet of its cost and benefits to the region.

The Labour Representative Committee said it will resist any efforts to privatise public assets like Translink and Belfast Harbour, while promoting a low carbon economy, through initiatives such as community energy co-operatives and the retrofit of the north's housing stock.

The party has also called for greater transparency in quango appointments and promoting greater cross-border co-operation.