Speech by Terry Wright to West Tyrone Unionist Association

Speaking at the AGM of West Tyrone Unionist Association, Terry Wright, UUP deputy chairman, said: "Politics without deeds are dead. If all we have to give to people is words then we fail the electorate".

"Politics and government should be making a difference to and improving the daily lives of people.

"This can only be achieved by addressing issues of equality and social justice, marginalisation, quality health care, economic re-generation, educational stalemate and cost-effective and people-centred governance at all levels.

"It is these issues and others that the Stormont Assembly was elected to address and at present it seems paralysed by the actions and politics of the two major parties who seem content to govern through brinkmanship, talking of trust but practising protracted negotiation.

"On the one hand there is Sinn Fein which, whilst accepting the principle of consent, continues to use the community and the Assembly as its camouflage and an instrument of agitation aimed at imposing its will whilst undermining the expressed will of the majority. Always it would seem there is that underlying will to revolt; a clear sign of its inability to shed its past and a desire to negate all goals but its own.

"On the other hand there is the DUP which seems unable to shake off its historical mantle of angry and graceless politics and acquire the ability to disagree without being disagreeable; unable to be assertive without being aggressive and harsh.

"Neither party, it would seem, is capable of operating a system of government which can only work through partnership and deliberation. Instead we get skirmishes, manoeuvres and battles.

"Each talks of a shared future when what they really mean is: 'Our future, you share it if you want too.'

"The outcome is a democratic deficit for which the public foots the bill.

"Education, not least the establishment of ESA and transfer, RPA, Policing and Justice grind to a halt as the two parties which exercise the most control face-off to see who is going to blink first.

"Each is trying to put the other down. What they fail to understand is that the only way you can keep someone down is to stay down yourself and the whole community suffers the consequences.

"The situation, added to the disillusionment resulting from issues of double-jobbing and expenses for MPs, is producing a fatigue with the process.

"Instead of focus, leadership and action, the electorate gets intransigence, political self-indulgence and posturing.

"The choice of some will be to end the process and move on however this would be to deny the vote of the majority on both sides of the border.

"Northern Ireland has as much right to devolution as Scotland and Wales and it has a right to a form of devolution which works to ensure good government.

"As long ago as 1998 there was provision for the review of the political process and structures.

"Now may be the time for such a review."