The Northern Ireland electorate wants its politicians to go beyond their slogans and deliver on policy, SDLP candidate Bríd Rodgers claimed today.
|
|
SDLP candidate Bríd Rodgers.
|
The Stormont Agriculture Minister who was in Brussels and unable to attend her party's manifesto launch claimed the word on the doorsteps was that people were "sick of the narrow-minded self-serving politics of some of the parties".
Mrs Rodgers, who is contesting the marginal seat of West Tyrone amid a strong challenge from Sinn Féin vice president Mr Pat Doherty and outgoing Ulster Unionist MP William Thompson, said it was not sufficient for parties to "get by on mere slogans".
In a reference to the new political climate created by devolution she argued: "This manifesto is different because for the first time it pledges the SDLP to actions over which it actually has some control.
"From now on no party can get by on mere slogans. All parties must now face up to their responsibilities in identifying policy objectives for which they will be held accountable.
"I've been on the doorstep some weeks now and this much I can tell you - the people are sick of the narrow-minded self-serving politics of some of the parties.
"They are baffled by their europhobia, disappointed by their inability to build common ground, fed up with their slogans and wondering if they will ever wake up to the real issues and the fact that representation is not just about shouting, it is also about doing."
SDLP leader John Hume urged the people of Northern Ireland not to lose the power sharing government at Stormont as they had in 1974 with the Sunningdale Agreement.
PA