Naomi Long: Alliance 'can end Stormont political soap operas'

The assembly election in May will be a chance to say no to "political soap operas" and deliver politics that works, Naomi Long has said.

The Alliance Party leader said it was not a time to walk away from government, but "lead in government".

Mrs Long is leading the party into the second assembly election since she took over in 2016.

She addressed the party's annual conference on Saturday - its first since the Covid pandemic began.

The party currently has seven assembly members (MLAs) at Stormont, but is hoping that will rise following successful local government, European and Westminster elections in 2019.

Mrs Long has also been Stormont's justice minister since January 2020, remaining in post despite the absence of an executive after the DUP withdrew Paul Givan as first minister.

'Addicted to crisis'

She said it was "hard to fathom" that Stormont was again without an executive after being restored just two years ago.

"It seems some politicians are addicted to crisis and conflict and simply not up to the job of actually governing," Mrs Long said.

"People have had enough of the constant dramas and political soap operas.

"They want politicians who don't just identify more problems - or worse still, add to them - but who are focused on finding solutions."

She added that Alliance had so far been "punching well above its weight" in the assembly but needed to "finish the job".

She cited a private members bill her party had brought seeking to ban hunting of animals with dogs, and said "four more Alliance" MLAs could have helped pass the bill after other parties voted against it.

"May's election won't just determine how our politics works for the next five years - it will determine if it works."

Alliance is part of the bloc that designates as other in the assembly, but Mrs Long has previously said that system means her party's views are not considered on controversial issues that require cross-community support, i.e. a majority of both unionists and nationalists.

Deputy leader Stephen Farry also addressed conference.

He was elected as the party's sole MP for North Down in the 2019 general election.

He described Alliance as "protocol realists".

The Northern Ireland Protocol puts a trade border in the Irish Sea.

Mr Farry said: "In the absence of an alternative, the only course of action is to try and make it work.

"We are protocol realists.

"We are committed to doing all we can to reduce the level and impact of the resultant checks down the Irish Sea through seeking closer alignment between the UK and the EU, and achieving further mitigations, flexibilities and derogations from EU requirements."

The conference took place in Belfast on Saturday.

The assembly election is due to take place on 5 May.