Northern Ireland must vote wisely to rein in Tory government
At the time of writing, the Tories and the Labour Party are within 10pc of each other in the latest opinion polls and no doubt as the UK election gets closer there is every possibility the Labour Party could narrow the gap.
If the Conservatives are to win again with a small majority, it is important Northern Ireland MPs are there to inflict defeat upon the government at every opportunity when Prime Minister Theresa May faces a backbench rebellion.
The Tory party is responsible for Brexit, benefit sanctions and cuts, education cuts, NHS privatisation and cuts, higher tuition fees and the continual blocking of funding for legacy inquests in Northern Ireland. This is not a government that should be given a free hand.
Therefore, Northern Ireland has to consider the MPs it sends to London. The DUP will vote with the Tories, Sinn Féin won’t bother to turn up and the Alliance Party amongst others will not have the numbers or experience to form working arrangements to bear any influence in London.
The SDLP has the opportunity to return its current three MPs and a fourth MP for Newry and Armagh. Mark Durkan, Margaret Ritchie and Alasdair McDonnell have demonstrated their influence in Westminster with such gains as the EU 27 recognition of a pathway for the North back into the EU through a united Ireland and maintaining pressure on the London government to lower Vat on tourism to help the Northern Ireland economy. People in the North must use our votes wisely. Gerard McDonald Belfast