READ AND LISTEN BACK to the main speeches at today’s Alliance Party Conference on the second anniversary of the last NI Assembly election and exactly two months before the next local government poll. Naomi Long pulled no punches in her criticism of Secretary of State’s “appalling dereliction of duty” to restore the Stormont institutions.
Extracts from Dr John Kyle’s speech at Saturday’s PUP conference in Antrim have been released, detailing the deputy leader’s analysis of the way forward regarding Stormont structures and a culture of partnership.
Listing Northern Ireland political party conferences planned for autumn 2018 and spring 2019. Post will be updated as precise dates and venues are confirmed, and links will be added to post-conference reviews.
Coverage of Saturday at the Sinn Féin ard fheis in Belfast with party overwhelmingly rejecting a motion that would have given freedom of conscience to members and representatives around abortion policy, and Mary Lou McDonald making her first presidential address an an annual gathering of the party.
Former Methodist President Rev Dr Laurence Graham addressed the Sinn Féin ard fheis in Belfast this morning and presented the delegates and party with three challenges around reconciliation and healing – ”People reconcile as they work together.”
Highlights from some of the northern speakers on Friday night at Sinn Féin’s ard fheis being held in the Belfast Waterfront. Northern leader Michelle O’Neill called for reconciliation to heal pain, build bridges and rid society of sectarianism and blamed the DUP/Tory pact for the lack of an Executive.
GREEN PARTY NI held their annual conference in Belfast with a focus on the upcoming local government elections next May and an emphasis on the need for better government and better governance in Northern Ireland.
The SDLP gathered for the first time in over two years for their conference at Titanic Belfast. In what has been a political year of many highs of lows for the party it was a relatively low key affair for most of the morning. Delegates (those who turned up) debated a steady stream of motions on welfare reform, environment and policing. The only potentially controversial motion that was up for debate was one regarding the naming of parks after actors …
PARTY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE – a list of the 2017/18 party conferences and gatherings most relevant to followers of NI politics. It’ll be updated with information as and when the parties confirm and share their plans, and updated with links to Slugger’s conference coverage after each event.
