Secretary of State undermining attempts to encourage youth democratic participation

10.23.56am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Jun 2006

Young Alliance Chair Cllr Ian James Parsley

The Alliance Party's youth wing has said the Secretary of State's populism is undermining attempts to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. The claims come in response to Mr Hain's furious attack on the local political parties.

Young Alliance Chair Cllr Ian James Parsley stated: "The Secretary of State is clearly trying to gain popular sympathy with his outburst about local political parties after their apparent failure even to agree a 'Preparation for Government Committee' Chairperson.

"However, if he looks more closely, he will see that four out of the five parties had agreed on the way forward. Only the DUP, which is running scared of the proper negotiation process required to get a 'fair deal', objects. Why then, is the Secretary of State so unwilling to stand up to the DUP?

"The Secretary of State is essentially giving people the impression that local politics is a waste of time. He is encouraging people not to vote at all. This is all to cover his own unwillingness to stand up to the unreasonable stance of the only party that is out of line.

"The Alliance Party continues to play a constructive role in talks. But let us be clear that we do not exist to referee tribal punch-ups, but to provide an progressive alternative to tribalism.

"Progressive politics is, in fact, alive and well in Northern Ireland - and the Government is doing us a great disservice to suggest otherwise."

ENDS