Manifesto launch:The Progressive Unionist Party has launched its manifesto, with party leader Dawn Purvis pledging to follow the example of the late David Ervine.
Watched by Mr Ervine's widow Jeanette, Ms Purvis symbolically painted over a UVF mural in east Belfast yesterday and unveiled one of the Belfast skyline in its place, saying it represented a new dawn for Northern Ireland.
"The mural is about the PUP's vision of a shared future for everyone," said Ms Purvis.
The party lost former leader Mr Ervine almost two months ago, and Ms Purvis said his legacy continued to encourage them. She said: "All these people here today were inspired by the life of David Ervine and were spurred on by his death. In a way, David is still standing in this election."
Ms Purvis said the election would be focused on "bread and butter issues" instead of constitutional politics. "We are going to get devolved government, with the DUP and Sinn Féin sharing power, make no mistake about that. That government has to deliver for the people," she said.
Ms Purvis is standing in Mr Ervine's former constituency of East Belfast, and the party will field two more candidates - Elaine Martin in North Down and Andrew Park in South Belfast.
Close by, at the Harland and Wolff shipyard, the Green Party introduced its manifesto, revealing it was launching a court challenge to block water charges.
The party said charges violate the EU Water Framework Directive, which was established in 2000 in order to ensure economic decisions are taken with conservation in mind.
"We would disagree with protests. However, it is one of the few issues that unite people. There is a virtual rebellion through the country as it is rightly seen as being an imposition," said CiaráMussen, candidate for South Down.