The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is the 3rd largest party in the Northern Ireland Executive, and led by Naomi Long who brands herself the Ginger Ninja, alongside the youngest Deputy Leader who looks like he’s just came out of an A Level exam, Eóin Tennyson.
In this blog, I’m going to tell you what the policies of the Alliance Party are and what their voters generally believe in, in case you want to vote for them in an Assembly or General Election.
Founded in April 1970 by people who had previously been part of the New Ulster Movement, they were set up as a group to promote moderate and non-sectarian policies. This is something they technically still stand by today, ultimately selling an image of being neither Nationalist or Unionist — though it has been debated in recent years that they’ve started backing more Nationalist and Republican issues over Unionist and Loyalist ones.
Though this has not stopped small-u Unionists, small-n Nationalists or people who identify as neither from voting for them.
But although the Alliance party of today is meant to be neutral on whether we stay part of the UK or if there should be Irish Reunification, it may still prove to create a problem for them, since, despite calls for a United Ireland supposedly increasing after the 2016 Brexit Referendum, in which they supported Remain, they still don’t confirm what way they would eventually vote if a referendum were to be eventually held.
They also view the Northern Ireland Protocol as the best case scenario, although they are up to changing some of the problems with it through negotiations, instead of pulling the entire Executive down.
But looking now at the issues that they actually aren’t afraid to talk about, the Alliance Party believes in delivering better Public Services, that will help everyone who uses them, and that won’t depend on green and orange politics.
They believe in a green economy that is fair for all, are in support of progressive climate legislation — which they believe will only be secured by the creation of high-paid, high-quality green new jobs — and also support investment into agriculture and an ambitious anti-poverty agenda, but they haven’t said publicly yet what they would take money away from, although they have admitted they will need a responsible approach to these plans, that will involve recognising limited revenue-raising powers.
True to the stepping stones of the party, they champion a shared future for society, where everyone in the country comes together, where society is peaceful, and where politics is defined by socioeconomic issues.
And as if that doesn’t sound angelic enough, they also respect the rights for all citizens regardless of race, religion, sex, gender, age, or place of origin.
They are also Pro-Abortion in certain circumstances, though they aren’t as favourable of Assisted Dying as other parties are.
But like all parties, you have to consider the bad side of their politics as well, and one area of their politics that they have been criticised for is for saying male-born prisoners could be housed in Northern Ireland’s female jail.
They are also Pro-Foreign Aid, and in relation to foreign conflicts, they tend to lean towards a Pro-Palestine stance (though they equally condemn what Hamas did on 7th October 2023), but they also support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
So to summarise what the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is:
- They are a Liberal Party, founded in 1970 out of the New Ulster Movement, and which has been led since 2016 by Naomi Long.
- They were against Brexit and view the Northern Ireland Protocol as the best solution, though they are also open to suggestions for improvements if they come up in negotiations.
- They are pro LGBT+, Pro Abortion in certain circumstances and Pro Irish Language signage.
- They support better action for Climate Change
- They believe Public Services should be easily accessible by everyone
- They have caused controversy for their attitude that vulnerable men / trans women may be housed in female jails.
Sources
History of the Alliance Party: https://www.allianceparty.org/our_history
Our Visions: https://www.allianceparty.org/our_vision
Naomi Long Officially Becomes Leader of The Alliance Party: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37782400