There can never be a justification for bombing, maiming and murdering innocent people

Workers Party candidates Conor Campbell (Belfast West) and Gemma Weir (Belfast North)  have contacted the Mayor Of Manchester Andy Burnham to express the Party’s outrage at last nights terrorist attack in the Manchester Arena and  to offer condolences to the families and friends of those who lost loved ones and to all those who were injured.

“There can never be a justification for bombing, maiming and murdering innocent people as they go about their work, take their leisure or go out for the evening. That applies equally to events in Manchester, Paris, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Libya, Afghanistan or the Yemen “, they said

“We are all too familiar with this type of attack on our own streets and we share the determination and resolve of the ordinary people of Manchester to stand firm and united and to refuse to let terrorists dictate how they live their lives”

The Party statement also praised all the emergency services for the professional and selfless way in which they responded to the terror attack and also to the many local people who opened their homes, their cabs, their facilities and put others .first in stark contrast to the those who planned this murderous terror attack.

“The coming days and weeks will be testing times for the people of Manchester and beyond”, Conor and Gemma said.

“It will be very important that the community unites in opposition to terror and is not turned against itself by those with divisive, racist or warmongering agendas. Manchester deserves and needs our undiluted support and solidarity”,Gemma and Conor concluded

Workers Party candidate Conor Campbell has praised the Falls Residents Association and all those took part in last week’s protest against anti-social behaviour in the McDonnell Street area.

“This type of community initiative has to be welcomed”. Conor said.

“It is very important to deliver a strong and united message that this type of behavior is unacceptable and unwanted and to do it in a dignified but forceful manner”, he added .

“We all know that there is no quick fix to these issues”, said Conor.

“The Workers Party fully supports joint planning and cooperation between local communities and the full range of statutory and voluntary agencies as the way forward. It is also important that we work with, and hold to account, the PSNI on its approach to community policing”, Conor said

“Last week’s protest made it very clear that the best way to confront these problems is through a planned and considered community led response”, he said
“There is no room for paramilitary style ‘punishments’.

“They are not the answer – this community has enough problems. It doesn’t need any more.”, Conor concluded

Benefit cuts place even more pressure on women – Gemma Weir

“These are truly frightening statistics. North Belfast now sits at the top of the domestic abuse table. That is not a record to be proud of”,  she said

“I think it is now time to formally include relationship guidance as a subject in schools. We cannot go on year after year witnessing increasing incidents of domestic abuse without taking some affirmative action”, she said

Workers Party candidates Gemma Weir (Belfast North) and Conor Campbell (Belfast West) have both signed up to the ‘Refugees Welcome’ pledge organised by the Refugee Council.

In a joint statement Conor and Gemma said ” We are delighted to add  The Workers Party’s name to the list  of  those who have publicly pledged support for refugees.

It is very important that as a society we respond with humanity, urgency and practical support for the thousands upon thousands of displaced persons. Northern Ireland has a proud record in this regard”

It is also very important that we address the root causes of the problem and recognise  that it has been the US and NATO interventions in Syria, Libya and Iraq which have provoked the current crisis”, they said

I pledge to respect the importance of refugee protection, including in wide-ranging debates about immigration, and, if elected, to uphold the proud tradition throughout the UK of welcoming people forced to flee war and persecution and helping them rebuild their lives.

See: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/refugees_welcome_pledge

Sinn Fein’s record of representation in West Belfast is “a scandal, a disgrace and an insult to the people of this constituency”, the Workers Party’s Conor Campbell has said

Conor Campbell

“For nearly 30 years West Belfast has returned a Sinn Fein MP to Westminster. – but it has resulted in absolutely no benefit for local people”, Conor said.

“Paul Maskey, and Gerry Adams before him, have presided over rising unemployment, an increasing reliance on benefits and escalating levels of poverty and low-income”, he added.

“Sinn Fein’s neglect of this constituency is a scandal, a disgrace and an insult to all local people – young and old alike”, Conor claimed”.

“This is how West Belfast has fared under three decades of Sinn Fein representation:

• 43% of children in West Belfast are growing up in poverty. That figure rises to almost 48% In the Colin Glen area
• Local unemployment levels are running at almost 8%
• Only 6% of Invest NI funding has come to West Belfast in the past three years
• Nearly half of all local people over 16 are dependent of at least one form of benefit
• A lower proportion of pupils from West Belfast, than elsewhere, go on to further education”

“That is the return for voting for Sinn Fein. Yet Sinn Fein says that West Belfast has suffered “…decades of neglect and a lack of investment”. What they avoid saying is that it’s happened on their watch and that they are responsible”.

“Working class people – employed, unemployed, young people and pensioners – need a Workers Party, committed to uniting workers to defend their own interests. This election is an opportunity to affirm that at the ballot box”, Conor concluded.

Every election is reduced to a sectarian headcount

Sinn Fein’s attempt to secure a nationalist pact in north Belfast has been criticised as “sectarianism in its crudest form”, by Workers Party candidate Gemma Weir.

“No matter how often they repeat it, this election is not about Brexit and it’s not about the border.   Sinn Fein view  every election as an opportunity for a sectarian headcount: nothing else matters to them”, she said.

“North Belfast needs a Workers Party for working class people – employed unemployed, young people and pensioners – a party that confronts the real class nature  of our society and presents the radical socialist alternative”.  

The  Workers Party has announced  that, in the forthcoming Westminster election, Conor Campbell will be its West Belfast candidate and that Gemma Weir will stand for the party in North Belfast .

” We are not doing deals, forming pacts or taking part in sectarian headcounts. With the Workers Party, what you see is what you get – a Workers Party for working people”