South Antrim - Ea2

Election Communication

South Antrim Constituency

David Ford “Improving community relations must be the biggest priority for our Assembly - not an optional extra. Only Alliance is providing credible answers to the problem of how we deal with our divisions.” “Only Alliance asks the awkward questions that need to be asked, and raises the difficult issues that need to be raised.”

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South Antrim

THURSDAY 29th MAY 2003

www.allianceworks.org Published by John Wallace on behalf of David Ford, both at 23a Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 5EX. Printed by GPS Colour Graphics, Alexander Road, Belfast, BT6 9HF.

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David Ford

Alliance Works ~ Tribal Politics Doesn’t www.allianceworks.org

David Ford Works

• Has represented the people of South Antrim for ten years as Councillor and MLA, previously a Social Worker in the area. • Outspoken opponent of sectarianism in all its forms, opposing religious ‘labelling’ by Government. • Strong record on protecting the environment: promoting recycling rather than waste landfill in our area, fighting for better planning policies, preserving endangered species like the Irish hare, improving public transport. • In the Assembly has worked to promote international development and fair trade produce. • Worked to defend the interests of local farmers, particullarly over CAP reforms and foot and mouth. • Elected leader of Alliance in 2001, spokesman for those working to unite this community. • Keeps in touch with local people through regular Focus leaflets and Assembly

South Antrim Alliance Works Your choice at this election is between a politician from one of the traditional parties and David Ford of Alliance. David has consistently opposed bigotry and sectarianism from wherever it comes. He is committed to working with local people to tackle the issues that really matter. He will oppose petty sectarianism on all sides. Only David Ford has the record of work, and the commitment to South Antrim, that will really count to build a united community.

Five Years of Wasted Opportunities The Agreement has yet to be properly implemented. Traditional parties have pursued their own narrow agendas and bickered over issues such as policing reform rather than working together for the good of all. Even today, rather than looking to a shared future together, the UUP and the SDLP are moving to the extremes, looking over their shoulders at the DUP and Sinn Féin. Meanwhile on the streets, sectarianism, segregation and enforcing the law remain major problems. Sectarianism Costs Sectarianism and segregation carry huge human and financial costs. More and more people are living almost parallel lives with a bare minimum of contact with people from different backgrounds. Huge resources are wasted in providing separate facilities that could be better invested in improving public services. Why do we persist in forcing people into boxes called unionism and nationalism? Apartheid never worked in South Africa. It can never work here. Making the Difference Healing our community divisions must be the biggest priority for the Assembly. Unless we seriously address these problems, they will eventually destroy the Agreement and all that has been achieved so far. Alliance is the leading cross-community and anti-sectarian voice in Northern Ireland. Alliance is the political voice of those who work to create a united community, characterised by sharing not separation. Alliance offers everyone an invitation to join something different, something better than tribal politics – a genuinely shared and non-sectarian future. For Alliance, the Agreement is not the ceiling of our ambition. It is the foundation on which we can build a better future.

The full Assembly Manifesto, and detailed policy papers are available from www.allianceworks.org or by phoning 9032 4274

David Ford

Alliance Works ~ Tribal Politics Doesn’t Back in 1998, people voted for a new beginning. While in many respects Northern Ireland is better than before, the progress that people had a right to expect has not occurred.