Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, a suggested manifesto

25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, where next? the central answer is that within the agreed framework ratified by referenda on both sides of the border, we need to work together with a shared purpose to build a stronger economy and a fairer and more integrated education system. A society at ease with itself.

Those with legitimate aims to change the constitutional arrangements set out and agreed on in 1998, whether to reduce or abolish any involvement from the Irish government or the British government should join and support other parties and pursue their arguments from there. We are the party of the Good Friday Agreement.

We will always be the party of progress, of renewal. The party of a new Northern Ireland. We will not go back to the divisions of the past. While some of us might harbor ambitions to eliminate what they may see as undemocratic interference from south of the border and some others may wish to imagine that border removed — the Alliance party will campaign on issues that affect the day-to-day lives of our children.

We would not support any border poll on a 50% +1 basis. Any such result could in theory be overturned a year later with 50% +1 the other way. This is a recipe for a return to The Troubles. Any movement away from the arrangements of the GFA would realistically need a qualified majority north and south akin to the results of the referenda 25 years ago. Furthermore, abstention would need to be considered disagreement.

War is over, if you want it. A new Ireland is here if you want it. A new UK is here if you want it.

A new Northern Ireland is here, with your help, The Alliance Party can make it a reality.