The Alliance Party will “undoubtedly” take a stand on the constitutional position – but not yet

Alliance leader Naomi Long said the Alliance party will undoubtedly take a stand on Northern Ireland’s constitutional position at some point in the future.

But Ms Long insisted that the constitutional issue was not at the forefront of most people’s minds at the moment as they struggle with crisis-hit healthcare and the staggering pressure on the cost of living.

Speaking at a party conference at the weekend, the East Belfast MLA said any future referendum on whether Northern Ireland would remain in the UK would have to be informed of the facts and evidence of the outcome of the “United Ireland” vote.

The party coalition does not currently take a constitutional position and is neither unitary nor nationalist in Stormont’s power-sharing structures.

“What people worry about, our health care, the cost of living crisis and the fact that we have to tackle climate change are issues that worry people, and it’s not a constitutional issue right now,” he told BBC News on Sunday’s Policy Show.

And when we take a stand, as will undoubtedly happen at some time in the future, it will be based on facts and evidence.

We will not see a referendum and we do not want to support a referendum on the future of Northern Ireland, for example, in the context of a Brexit-style referendum, where it promises everything to everyone and everyone is disappointed.

“So we really need to focus on issues that matter to people, and I think what we also have to do is respect the fact that for a lot of people in our society and for a growing number of people, that’s not what defines policies. And we have to adapt ‘our policy has to be respected’.” .

Speaking at Saturday’s conference, Ms Long said the Northern Ireland Assembly coalition’s major achievement in May could herald the end of the Stormont-based binary political system.

He stressed the need for significant changes in the structures currently based on the societal marking system, which actually vetoes the unionist or patriotic blocs.

On Sunday, Ms Long said Stormont could no longer act if one side could suspend effective government if it decided to “take the ball and go home”.

His comments come amid the recent power-sharing crisis in Stormont.

Executive authority collapsed last month when the DUP ousted Prime Minister Paul Giovanni from the administration as part of its protest campaign against the Brexit protocol in Northern Ireland.

The move automatically removed Michelle O’Neill, First Deputy Minister for Sinn Féin, from his position and removed the executive branch’s ability to make important decisions.

Other ministers, such as Mrs. Long, remain in office but are restricted in basic decision-making.

It is not clear whether a new administration can be formed on the other side of the May 5 election, as the DUP makes clear it may not be normal until Brexit barriers to trade in the Irish Sea are lifted.

“We need to make sure that no party on boards and future leaders can take the ball and go home and leave the rest in such a situation,” Long told BBC News on Sunday.

“I think what we have to do is put the balance back on the playing field. If the DUP doesn’t want to be part of the government, it has the right to be part of the government, but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t mean we can’t be part of the government. We shall have a government and it shall be the same for everyone else.

“If both sides want to get themselves out of power, their choice to be held accountable is their choice, but we won’t be able to hold the rest hostage.”

Ms. Long described Mr. Long’s resignation as “scandalous”. Jiwan, in light of the problems people face in Northern Ireland.

The move means the executive is unable to agree on a three-year budget, and Sinn Fein Finance Minister Conor Murphy says it also means the additional 300 million yen earmarked for the next fiscal year cannot be spent.

The DDF disputes this claim and urges the other parties in Stormont to work together to find a way to raise the money, despite the lack of a temporary executive.

“I think we can take some comfort from the fact that, for the first time in a long time, the DUP’s answer is no, because unfortunately that’s part of the problem,” he said.

They have left the government and left us in this legally uncertain situation, where we have ministers in office, but not in the government, where we can do what we were already doing, but we can’t. New things. “

He added, “I really think it’s outrageous given the stress that people are going through, the pressure on our health services, the pressure on the cost of living crisis and the fact that this money could be lost on us if we don’t spend it, I think it’s outrageous. That DUP is coming to that.”