As the general election campaign enters its final week, we can only look with envy at the electorate across the water. They can change the government in Westminster, but no matter how we vote here, we always get the same administration at Stormont, based around the two biggest sectarian parties. That’s the law.
Britain’s political system offers a choice of government. Ours just offers a choice of a government (in the very loose sense of the word) or no government.
For quarter of a century, Sinn Féin and the DUP have ruled us, with minor additions from Alliance, the UUP and the SDLP. Since there is no mechanism to change this system, we are condemned to having the same government for all eternity.
Welcome to political hell.
If you are unsure about this theory of eternal punishment, look at how the record of the three main Stormont parties does not feature in the election campaign. Yes, they are standing for election to Westminster, but their Stormont record still defines their core behaviour.
For example, instead of a manifesto, SF published little more than a pre-election press statement. It is based on a combination of wishful thinking (“The discussion on constitutional change is everywhere”) and the reversal of reality (by voting SF, “you are supporting better funding for our public services.”)
In July 2016 the Nursing Times reported that health minister, Michelle O’Neill, had “belatedly confirmed a 1% pay award”.
The following month, she supported pay restraint for NHS workers, telling the Pay Review Body in England that, “the NI Executive has endorsed the principle of adherence to the UK Government’s public sector pay policy.” (It’s the sort of thing a former nursing union representative might highlight.)
In fairness to the DUP, they published a lengthy manifesto. Its top priority is, “Promoting the union”. Its second priority is “Putting You First” (presumably behind promoting the union).
However, their various policy positions are undermined by a key philosophical question: can you abolish something which you said does not exist? Yes, the DUP is now going to remove the non-existent Irish Sea border.
It also supports more money for health, just weeks after it (and SF and Alliance) agreed to leave the NHS short by £189 million.
The party’s final warning is that not voting risks the wrong people being elected. In view of Stormont’s record, some might impolitely suggest that going to the polls carries a bigger risk of electing the wrong people.
And then we have Alliance, the party which is “Leading change for everyone”. (Whether this is the same as SF’s “Positive Change” is not clear, but two parties which uphold an unchangeable political system are promising change).
The party’s final warning is that not voting risks the wrong people being elected. In view of Stormont’s record, some might impolitely suggest that going to the polls carries a bigger risk of electing the wrong people
While SF has an abstentionist policy after the election, Alliance appears to have a similar policy before a vote is cast. West Belfast Alliance candidate, Eóin Millar, will abstain from campaigning, because he is in the US.
The party is largely silent on a High Court judgment that ruled Alliance’s law on sex offenders is illegal, on the basis that it in incompatible with press freedom. The decision followed legal proceedings by this and other newspapers.
Instead of saying, “Oops, sorry”, the party leader defended the illegal law (which was passed by the Assembly) and refused to say if she will appeal the ruling. Her decision will have no bearing on the election here. It would be different in Britain.
A guaranteed place in government for the three main parties means that they have been able to abandon responsibility for public services. While the collapse of the NHS in Britain will push the Tories out of office, the reverse is the case here.
To prove the point, draw two graphs for yourself: one showing the massive increase in waiting lists for health care and the other showing the popularity of SF. The higher the waiting lists, the greater the support for SF.
The only good thing Britain ever did in Ireland was to introduce the welfare state here, including the NHS. The competing sectarian interests of SF and the DUP in Stormont have now significantly damaged it – without any electoral consequences.
In Britain, the NHS is a key election issue. Here it ranks behind Casement Park. Michelle O’Neill has pledged to knock on Downing Street’s door to obtain money for a stadium to host a soccer tournament. She has not promised the same for the NHS.
If the Tories had a system of politics and government like ours, they would be in power for ever.
