Smith calls for next Assembly election to be delayed by a year
NORTHERN Ireland’s next Assembly election should be postponed by a year because of the coronavirus crisis, former Secretary of State Julian Smith has said.
But he appeared to suggest that more money for Stormont would depend on water privatisation.
More time is needed to tackle educational inequality and housing shortages once the devolved administration’s focus shifts from defeating the infection, Mr Smith said.
The next Stormont poll is due in 2022 and Mr Smith said devolved ministers need an extended period to realise their priorities for Government.
He explained that “giving this Executive and Assembly time would help” and after a “decent” period voters may be able to take part in a more meaningful election.
The former Cabinet minister acknowledged that polls tend to be dominated by constitutional questions surrounding Northern Ireland’s place in the UK.
“I think that as a result of Covid many things that would have happened in the Executive in the weeks following the restoration have obviously been delayed,” he added.
Mr Smith and Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney brokered the New Decade, New Approach deal with five Stormont parties which restored power-sharing in January after a three-year hiatus.
He was sacked by Boris Johnson in February despite enjoying widespread support in the country.
The Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee: “People want their services to work and Northern Ireland does work, but I genuinely think that now we have had this crisis we do need to provide time to get those things improved.
“The overarching improvements in health care, the need to start delivering on City Deals (regenerating greater Belfast and Londonderry) and infrastructure projects and the need to look at education and educational inequalities that still exist, and the housing deficit.”
Mr Smith reiterated his concern that within 48 hours of the restoration of Stormont, charging for water had been ruled out by new ministers. “It is inevitable that in order to be a full success some form of revenue-raising will have to happen,” he said.
He added there was willingness to support Northern Ireland with extra money from Westminster in future, but warned there had to be an understanding that Whitehall and the Government needed to be fair to Scottish, Welsh and English voters.
“If there is a prioritisation... and if there is reform happening... I think that the Chancellor and the Prime Minister are incredibly supportive of making this Executive work,” he said.