Local government elections traditionally receive less attention than Westminster or assembly level. Yet the decisions made by your councillors affect your lives every day. How your rates are spent, bin collections, leisure facilities and future planning decisions in your district will all be shaped by the people who are elected on May 18.
The Ulster Unionist Party wants to see the 11 councils across Northern Ireland at the heart of decision making within the communities they represent. This is vital, now more than ever, without a functioning Assembly and Executive.
This election offers a clear choice. Between those parties who have proven they can deliver and serve the needs of those they represent, and those parties who offer nothing other than dysfunction and ineptitude. I do not want to see our councils become 11 mini-Stormonts that grind to a halt because the toxicity that has frustrated the Assembly and Executive is allowed to take root at local government level too.
It is important that councillors are elected who are capable of working together to get things done. The Ulster Unionist Party is fielding 101 candidates who will do just that. They offer a mix of experienced councillors and people who are entering politics for the first time. These are people who live, work and serve their communities in one way or another. They understand what good delivery from council looks like and what more needs to be done.
I know they will all serve the people of Northern Ireland with commitment and care. They are ambitious about what can be delivered by local government and are invested in Northern Ireland’s future.
This election also offers an opportunity to send a clear message on the type of politics you want to see. If you want to see an end to repeated stalemate, then I would appeal to you to vote for something different.
There will be bumps in the road that politicians here will have to deal with. That is inevitable. But this does not have to always mean crisis. We can fight our corner and stay true to our values without walking away.
As a unionist I still have issues with the Windsor Framework. I have made no secret of it. I also believe that these problems can be dealt with within a restored Executive and Assembly. If anything, it will give us a stronger platform to advocate for change. I do not believe it is positive for anyone in Northern Ireland when decisions are being made over our heads. We are already seeing the results of the devolved institutions not operating and things will only grow worse.
For our part, the Ulster Unionist Party is committed to making Northern Ireland work. That means seeing devolution restored and getting back to the job of making decisions that deliver results for people. Making Northern Ireland work also means delivering at all levels across our democratic institutions. With Ulster Unionist candidates you will be electing a strong team, ready to deliver for you and your family.
