IN LAST night’s Northern Ireland leaders’ debate on the BBC the Ulster Unionist and SDLP leaders Tom Elliott and Margaret Ritchie had a far better time of it than they enjoyed previously.
They managed to get under the skin of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister when majoring on the line of a “cosy relationship” between Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness.
It prompted some angry responses from the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Ms Ritchie and Mr Elliott widened the attack by claiming that the Alliance leader and Minister of Justice David Ford was merely a “puppet” of the DUP and Sinn Féin.
It prompted a lively five-handed ding-dong which for a little while at least ignited what has been a rather dour campaign. Though having said that, none of the five said anything rash or controversial enough to reshape tomorrow’s election. Yet there is no doubt that UUP and SDLP supporters will take most solace from the debate. Mr Elliott and Ms Ritchie restored some pride.
Otherwise there were no major surprises. Mr Robinson said the result of the election would shape the direction of Northern Ireland for years to come. “We are better placed than at any time in decades,” he said.
Mr McGuinness again criticised the actions of the dissident republicans but had to deal with the issue of the apparent irony of Sinn Féin condemning violence. “It is important not to forget the past but I want to live in the present, I want to live in the here and now and the future,” he said.
On the possibility of Mr McGuinness being in a position to take the First Minister post should Sinn Féin win most seats, Mr Elliott said he didn’t want Mr McGuinness in the post – and neither did he want Mr Robinson as First Minister.
Ms Ritchie was a little unsettled when asked about double-jobbing. She was standing for the Assembly while also sitting at Westminster because the party had determined that, as leader, she should be in both houses.
Mr Ford said the Executive may have to face up to the reality of water charges to improve the infrastructure that was failing.
* The family of Constable Ronan Kerr, who was last month murdered by dissident republicans in an under-car bomb attack in Omagh, Co Tyrone, has urged all supporters of the peace process and the Belfast Agreement to turn out and vote in tomorrow’s elections in Northern Ireland.
In a statement the Kerr family said that not voting was playing to the agenda of the dissidents and all those who wanted to undermine the peace process.
“This is our only democratic means to reaffirm our need for peace,” the family said. It said it didn’t matter which party people chose to support “as long as they support the peace process”.
“We’re all working for a common goal and need to stand firm together,” said the Kerr family. “By not voting we are allowing the men of violence control and power over our lives.”
