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Ritchie sets sights on united Ireland within her lifetime
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
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The contest to become the next SDLP leader gained momentum yesterday as Margaret Ritchie pledged “radical change” at every level of the party.
The Social Development Minister formally launched her campaign to take over from Mark Durkan against the current deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell — with the party giving the final verdict at its annual conference next February.
Ms Ritchie said the party, whose vision captured her under the leadership of John Hume, now needed to inspire the next generation.
Focusing on the need to attract young people to join, she told the event in the Stormont Hotel she could have concentrated on the vital organisational rebuilding which the party requires.
But she went on: “My vision for the future starts with what we have yet to achieve. Like it or not despite our many successes we have not delivered prosperity. We have not yet succeeded in reconciling the people of the North. And we have not achieved our goal of Irish unity.
“Anyone who knows me knows that when I put my mind to do something it gets done. I will be a decisive leader who will be unafraid to take difficult decisions in the best interests of the party,” the South Down MLA added.
“None of us is under any illusion about the scale of the challenges confronting our party. But, together, we have it in us to meet those challenges and more.”
The party’s only Executive minister said she hoped to help achieve Irish unity in her lifetime and would campaign hard for a new all-party commission with a clear remit to agree a modern, inclusive vision for a united Ireland to be set up.
And as the only senior nationalist politician to attend an Ulster Unionist Party conference, she added: “I will engage meaningfully with the unionist community, look them in the eye and tell them they can trust the SDLP and they can trust me.”
In contrast, she said, Sinn Fein’s claim that a united Ireland could be achieved by 2016 — the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising — was “as laughable as it is dishonest” while its ‘outreach’ work with Protestants and unionist neighbour was “at best patronising and at worst deeply prejudiced”.
In a brochure outlining plans to rebuild the party, Ms Ritchie said people who view the SDLP as a “slightly paler” version of Sinn Fein “could not be more wrong”.
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Steve, I doubt they see a land of milk and honey in the North either. According to today's BT, 31 per cent of the working age population in Northern Ireland aren't in paid work, by far the highest in the U.K.
Northern Ireland's median wage, again according to today's BT, is only 85 per cent of that in Britain.
On the contrary, I think today's immigrants would only be too happy to be part of a country where wages are 25 per cent higher than in Northern Ireland, and some of the highest in the European Union.
Posted by El Cid | 12.11.09, 11:15 GMT
Steve - Nevergreen,
I'm flattered by your new name Steve, Copying is the best form of flattery you know !
With about 47% (and rising) of the population of NI indigenous Irish now, it's getting close to the bone don't you think ? I believe also that about 5 - 10% of natives are Unionist and about 5 - 10% of settlers are nationalist, so it about balances out on that score.
As for immigrants, they are a breath of fresh air and presumably open minded on these issues. But I doubt that many of them will see the logic in a small part of Ireland being "loyal" to a neighbouring island, especially in the new Europe unfolding almost daily before our eyes. Still, who knows, time will tell I suppose.
No one denies you your point of view Steve. We are at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but I would defend your right to your opinions. At least we are shooting words and not bullets at each other. Also go and bang your drum all you wish, but please - don't upset the natives.
Posted by Evergreen | 12.11.09, 10:54 GMT
Margaret Ritchie has time and time again failed as a Minister. Take Winter Fuel Payments. She alleged that the money could be be paid straight away. If it wasn't for the First Minister then it would never have been done. It took Peter to point out to Margaret that she didn't have the money or proper legislation in place to get the go ahead.
Posted by Mark | 12.11.09, 09:28 GMT
Margaret Ritchie wants a united Ireland in her life time , well everyone has dreams .
A united Ireland will come about when the majority in Northern Ireland vote for it.
The majority of the people want NI to be part of the UK and there is nothing to say that todyas immigrants and tomorrow immigrants would want a united Ireland , the majority of them are probably economic immigrants , and when they look over the border they do not see a land of "milk and honey".
Posted by Steve-Nevergreen | 12.11.09, 01:36 GMT
Evergreen states"fanatics of "Ulster" Unionism are where they belong. In the dustbin of history.
Surely Ulster Unionists and Ulster Loyalists have a right to their point of view.
It is worrying that certain people would deny them that right or seek to "force" them to accept something they do not want.
Posted by Steve-Nevergreen | 12.11.09, 01:31 GMT
What about a united Ulster first and one day you never know Ulster people may want to be friends and live side by side! Its a pity the elected politicians dont show any interest in people and are still rambling on about the dead instead of the living, all they can utter is your flag and banner is bigger than ours and your drum is louder than my brothers! Meantime the NHS is understaffed and people are waiting for weeks for a doctors appointment for their sick kids in a recession that bites deeper...
Posted by mike monahan | 11.11.09, 22:37 GMT
Evergreen-I have read many of your submissions in the past and I would have to say that it is a rare thing indeed to find myself in agreement with you.
However, the "fanatics" are not all on one side.
Also,I don't think that the Republic of Ireland have any interest in taking on another 2million or so people as their country is in financial meltdown.
Posted by Dave, East Belfast | 11.11.09, 18:46 GMT
I think Sinn Fein and the SDLP need to wake up and face the facts, it is all good and well if there is a majority vote for a United Ireland. But who says the South of Ireland wants the North especially with the state of the Irish economy.
If you go to the South of Ireland and ask any Catholic have you been to Northern Ireland the answer is no. So if the Catholic's in the north love the south so much, why don't you go down and live in it.
The sooner Northern Ireland gets rid of political parties with one religion in them the better. Then maybe things might actual get done.
Each party should have a new name and have at least 50 percent Protestant and 50 percent Catholic.
Posted by Jon | 11.11.09, 15:47 GMT
Ms Richie has her heart in the right place, but before all the usual Unionist suspects start banging on in outrage about 'loyalty to the crown" etc let me say this.
There is a community of people which has the most serious misgivings and do NOT want a UI until the fanatics of "Ulster" Unionism are where they belong. In the dustbin of history.
I'm referring to the people of the Republic of Ireland.
Posted by Evergreen | 11.11.09, 12:18 GMT
She is making the right noises.
As someone from the Unionist community I have in the past voted SDLP, I have absolutely no argument with their common sense approach.
Offcourse a reasoned Nationalist party is what the Unionist parties fear most, SF make it easy for them.
Posted by M S | 11.11.09, 11:39 GMT
“I will engage meaningfully with the unionist community, look them in the eye and tell them they can trust the SDLP and they can trust me.”
Who is Maragaret kidding? Face facts Unionism and Irish National Socialism (the SDLP are nationalist & socialist - allegedly) are mutually exclusive. Irish unity will come about when there is a majority in N.I who vote for it and there is nothing that the SDLP has ever done to persuade me to support them.
Time the electorate abandoned these sectarian junkies who rule Stormont and started to vote on real issues.
Posted by Paulo | 11.11.09, 10:12 GMT