Businesses should set up their own party to help secure the future of NI

HOW to explain the helplessness of 407 of Northern Ireland’s leading business owners (News, April 3)?

These business leaders were only asking to be treated the same as businesses in England, but were nevertheless rebuffed by MLAS.

There are a number of observations that can be made. Firstly, the annual subvention from Westminster has arguably led to devolved governments that are politically so far to the Left that Labour Party candidates can no longer get elected there.

Secondly, the Covid pandemic has exposed a clear divide between the public and private sectors in which the “I’m all right, Jack” attitude of public servants has been enforced through guaranteed salaries and pay rises, while business owners have been thrown to the wolves. Even when Stormont belatedly offered help to directors, they inserted so many caveats that probably most were excluded.

Thirdly, throughout the course of this pandemic, MLAS had a clear choice to keep open either multiples or else local independent businesses, either of which could keep consumers supplied and both of which probably have the same impact on Covid’s spread.

Stormont Ministers and MLAS sided with the large multiple retail chains and have caused irreparable damage to the local economy and local businesses.

Lastly, it should be apparent to local businesses by now that the only way they are going to have any influence at Stormont is to set up their own political party and field their own candidates.

A century ago, Westminster thought it was getting the jewel in the Empire’s crown when it held on to Northern Ireland, but the sheen soon wore off as the captains of industry were replaced by military pretenders.

A sound argument can be made that business leaders need to act now in concert to secure their own and Northern Ireland’s future and, should it prove necessary, designate as needed to keep the Assembly running postMay 2022.

DR BERNARD MULHOLLAND Belfast