Inject some transparency into Political Process, says UUP Leader
UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey speaking to party members in South Antrim this evening said that without some transparency injected into the political process public confidence would not be secured.
In a speech Sir Reg said,
“The political negotiations over recent years have been marred by a lack of transparency on the Government’s part. Secret deals, closed door negotiations and the delivery of unpopular policies have all contributed to a crisis of confidence in the political process. People don’t know what to expect next with concession after concession creeping out of the woodwork.
If public confidence in politics and politicians is to be restored then the Secretary of State must draw a firm line under the secretive and nudge-nudge, wink-wink politics that defined 2004-2005. We must move to a more transparent process where everybody knows where they stand and knows what’s coming next.
A fortnight ago I said that a good starting point would the publication of a full inventory of weapons decommissioned by the IRA. I also called on government to publish, in full, their papers on the Comprehensive Agreement including any and all side deals between the Government and Sinn Fein and the Government and the DUP. This would be a positive start.
It will take a long time for government to regain the trust of the public and for the public to have confidence in the political process here. The British Government, the Irish Government and Sinn Fein gave assurances over the years, which have not been honoured, and unionism has, as a result, become increasingly alienated from the political process.
This alienation can be partly addressed by a new, open and transparent approach to the talks, negotiations and process in general.”