The Future:

This election is about choosing a government for Northern Ireland. The task of that government is to govern. The Ulster Unionist Party believes that, as a community, we are now ready for a regional government of our own.

You want a government that works.

You don't want another election to an Assembly that can't meet or an Executive that won't be formed in the near future.

The DUP and Sinn Fein are more interested in dividing power between themselves rather than sharing office for the benefit of Northern Ireland. The DUP and Sinn Fein are more interested in polarising our society rather than finding ways of uniting us.




Normal Politics:

The Ulster Unionist Party believes in the need for normal politics in Northern Ireland. It's now time to concentrate on the everyday issues which affect all of us: health, schools, rates and water charges, our environment, jobs and investment, and every other issue that matters to you and your family.

Normal politics will be better than Direct Rule politics. It doesn't mean that the Assembly will resolve every problem, but it does ensure direct and local accountability if parties get it wrong!

Normal politics will be better than a constant them-and-us battle over ancient squabbles. Normal politics will be better than the experience we’ve endured here for decades.

Normal politics, in time, will allow parties to form genuine political coalitions and move away from the tribal, divisive politics of the past.




For all of us:

The Ulster Unionist Party remains a strong voice at the centre of this process – committed to creating and supporting policies which are good for all of us rather than policies which promote the interests of some, not all.

The Ulster Unionist Party has helped to make Northern Ireland a better place for all of us. Unionism now stands on the ground that we staked out over the past 10 years. Nationalism and Republicanism have accepted that the constitutional position of Northern Ireland can only be changed by the will of the people, not by force or by external government action.

We believe that the people of Northern Ireland are ready to take control of their own affairs and make normal politics work.




The Way Forward:

Given the progress that Northern Ireland has made in recent years, thanks in large measure to the sacrifice and service of the security forces, we must ensure that we seize the opportunities for progress that are opening up before us.

In these circumstances, would it be wise to renew the mandates of Sinn Fein and the DUP?

How could any administration survive if it was dominated by two parties who refuse to speak to each other or share common values?

Can you imagine Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley representing Northern Ireland on foreign trade missions? Would they travel in separate cars and communicate via intermediaries? And all this in front of potential investors!

As a party dedicated to promoting and strengthening the Union, we are satisfied that this cannot be done by remaining mere spectators in our own country.

Unionist policy must be determined by unionists and not driven by the actions of Sinn Fein. We must make up our own minds on what we believe to be in the best interests of Northern Ireland.

In these circumstances - and conscious of the legal requirement for all who wish to hold office to fully support the PSNI and the rule of law - we intend to take those seats in the Executive to which we are entitled.

The Ulster Unionist Party will not agree to set a date for the devolution of Policing and Justice until such times as public confidence is established.

On March 7th we are asking you to vote Ulster Unionist to support politics and policies that are good for all of us.