‘This election is unnecessary and will solve nothing unless people use it to pass judgement on all the parties in Stormont’.
That is the stark and realistic introduction to the Workers Party Assembly Manifesto – The Socialist Alternative
It goes on to say, ‘The two Executive parties, in particular, have been irresponsible, arrogant and contemptuous. Returning them to power to do the same thing again makes no sense at all’.
The manifesto highlights the failures of the last and previous Assemblies and of the DUP / Sinn Fein Coalition in particular, highlighting welfare cuts, attacks on workers’ rights, the privatisation of public services. plans for lower corporation tax and the refusal to implement progressive social legislation.
‘For devolution to work there needs to be a root and branch reform of the Assembly structures’, the Party says.
It also points out that many aspects of the Good Friday Agreement have been deliberately abandoned while in every aspect of social, economic, cultural and community life working class people have been subjected to public expenditure cuts, marginalisation and exclusion.
The Socialist Alternative presented by the Workers Party addresses economic growth, strategies to tackle poverty, sectarianism and the growing housing crisis.
It also sets out policies on health, education and rural development and the case for a womans’ right to choose.
However, the Party’s manifesto also points out that problem of inequality and exploitation must be tackled at its root by eradicating the current economic system and constructing a socialist society.
The Workers Party is standing five candidates in the Assembly Electi0ns:
Belfast North:Gemma Weir Belfast South:Lily Kerr Belfast West:Conor Campbell
Mid Ulster: Hugh Scullion Upper Bann: Colin Craig
Workers Party Northern Ireland 