Naomi Long MLA @naomi_long@respublicae.eu
Unofficial automated mirror. No copyright asserted. ∎ Alliance Party Leader | East Belfast MLA
email: naomi.Long@mla.niassembly.gov.uk | Facebook: Naomi Long
Check in when I can. No DMs. Email for a reply 🙂
Joined Apr 2022
@HeavenScentxs @StephenFarryMP The party is our membership.
I don't dictate to them where to stand on issues: they decide for themselves, via the party structures.
They have endorsed our current policy.
@Steven_OConnor1 @HarriettmooreB2 @StephenFarryMP But it is? You could condemn both as we have consistently where we see it happening.
You are defending what happened in Dublin Airport whilst attacking the mirror image elsewhere.
Surely we all just need to stop this crap and quit poking each other in the eye? It's destructive.
@HarriettmooreB2 @StephenFarryMP I've never once seen you step in to defend loyalists who behave provocatively or seek to cause offence, with words or actions.
When the UVF try to hide behind 1912 on their flags, we dismiss that as nonsense, too. Why would this be treated any differently?
@HarriettmooreB2 @StephenFarryMP We aren't talking about the Irish women's football team, Harriett.
We're talking about chanting in the main airport on the island. The people chanting it here are mainly men.
We aren't "piling on". We've been saying all summer that increasing bitterness is a real problem. 1/2
@HeavenScentxs @StephenFarryMP We don't make that decision. Our members do. The party is democratic not autocratic.
@spraypainterIE We've never prevented discourse. We've engaged in such discussions and will continue to do so.
Your constitutional aspirations weren't a factor in your non selection, as was explained.
Anyway, I note that you're leaving again, so take care and all the very best for the future.
@Steven_OConnor1 @HarriettmooreB2 @StephenFarryMP We do condemn both though, so that point doesn't land. Just scroll through my tweets and you'll see it.
@HarriettmooreB2 @StephenFarryMP I'm surprised that you're seeking to justify this, tbh.
And that after criticising us for not being at Irelands Future, you now tell us what's happening in Ireland isn't our business?
It makes no sense, Harriett.
@HarriettmooreB2 @StephenFarryMP Harriett, you could hardly accuse us of sitting back and saying nothing about what happens over the summer.
It isn't whataboutery to express genuine concern about these patterns of behaviour, north or south, unionist or nationalist, British or Irish.
@Alexandernewry @irishborderpoll I didn't say "before". Read the thread.
@CerbhalMac @irishborderpoll Which is our position, stated in this thread. Calm down.
@johnney127 @Endagame32 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 I'd argue we are.
Consider all our options on the basis of evidence rather than ideology and work to reconcile the people of these islands in parallel with that work.
Anyway - gotta dash. Speak soon.
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 There are still protections in our model: they just can't be abused in the way, for example, the petition of concern often was by the DUP on issues that were not specific to unionism but affected everyone.
I think that's healthy evolution, not revolution. 🙂
Speak soon.
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 We're not binning the GFA - we support it. But not reforming what doesn't work is eroding confidence in it and it's principles.
Modest reform to ensure all strands can work while removing some of the "ugly scaffolding" in the institutions is needed 25 years on.
>
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 The foundation was the principles: the mechanisms were about managing divisions and were formed for the time.
I'd argue they entrenched the division and mitigated against cross-community cooperation.
Society has also changed. Reform to reflect that is needed. >
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 Gotta run, but happy to chat further another time.
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 It doesn't. It isn't voluntary coalition. It gives the DUP & SF (as the current incumbents) the same rights to be in government, but also the same rights to opt out, as every other party. It also stops vetoes on issues which have nothing to do with constitutional politics.
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 I think it would be a major step forward. The GFA is a foundation on which we can build, not a ceiling fir our ambitions.
In politics, we align along different paradigms on different issues: designation copperfastens one as a fault line and that infects everything else we do.
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 It's no more significant than previous changes which only benefited the DUP politically, yet our proposals would protect the whole community, whose choices are being undermined by the ability to force an electoral rerun at the behest of one party. That has to stop
@gtmag10 @TomTory1 @Steven_OConnor1 @ClogherHead1 Not a total departure. They're consistent with GFA principles - powersharing, respect for mandate and inclusion.
However, they prevent people using their mandate as leverage to prevent government and take account of the inequity of the growing non-aligned vote being discounted.>
Unofficial automated mirror. No copyright asserted. ∎ Alliance Party Leader | East Belfast MLA
email: naomi.Long@mla.niassembly.gov.uk | Facebook: Naomi Long
Check in when I can. No DMs. Email for a reply 🙂
Joined Apr 2022
