Crisis-engulfed politics in NI demands new opposition party – Aontu leader

The crisis-engulfed politics of Northern Ireland demands a new opposition party, the leader of Aontu has said.

Peadar Toibin blasted the ongoing political crisis in Northern Ireland as he launched his party’s council election campaign at the Devenish in west Belfast.

“There is no other country in the world that would allow for its political system to grind to a halt for well over a year, there is no other country in the world that would allow for so much economic pain and suffering to be experienced by people and still have the political system not functioning – there would be literally demonstrations on the streets if this was being experienced in any other country,” he said.

“Never before has politics in the north of Ireland demanded a new opposition party to face down the political system that is not working for the people.”

Mr Toibin said his party is “gaining momentum and traction”.

He criticised recent rates increases voted in by several councils, and described his party as one of reform, bringing “ideas and reforms” that no other party is.

The party proposes to reform the legislation underpinning Stormont to prevent future collapses of the institutions as well as stopping MLAs getting paid “while they are not doing their job”.

The party won one council seat at the last local government election in Northern Ireland in 2019, and gained one more council seat a few months later.

Aontu is running 19 candidates – its largest election showing yet – in the election to 11 councils that will take place on May 18.