Councillor Christopher Stalford

DUP Councillor for Laganbank, Christopher Stalford has praised the DUP negotiating team at the St. Andrews talks for securing capping on the rates system and a commitment from the government to deliver a comprehensive relief package for those likely to suffer under the proposed system. The DUP man pointed out that more than 85% of his constituents would have been adversely affected by the introduction of capital based rates here.

Speaking today Councillor Stalford said:

“I want to place on the record the sincere appreciation of myself and hundreds of my constituents for the sterling work the DUP negotiators carried out at the St. Andrews talks. The governments proposed capital-based rating system was a nightmare for many of the people I represent, lots of whom were facing the prospect of selling their homes in order to meet the excessive demands placed upon them by the government. For the DUP to have gone to St. Andrews and secure a commitment from the government that rates will now be capped, despite what David Hanson was claiming only last week, that a cap would not be forthcoming, is a major achievement.

My constituents will be delighted that we have secured this concession, which accompanied by a commitment of a relief package for the most vulnerable in society represents joyous news for those who would have been most adversely affected by the government planned rating system.

Once again we see for ourselves the truth that whilst other shilly-shallied or advocated people going to prison, it was the Democratic Unionist Party that has delivered for hard-working people on the ground who were going to be hit hardest by Hain and Hnason’s smash and grab rating scheme. In Stranmillis, Rosetta (shown), Botanic and Ballynafeigh this news will be most welcome

Christopher Stalford has claimed that the government has no support amongst his constituents and the wider public for its proposed changes to the rating system. He was speaking after attending a public debate on the issue organised by the BBC and held in the Ulster Hall. Councillor Stalford called upon the government to introduce capping and ensure a proper and adequate relief system was introduced to help those most adversely affected by the changes. He also demanded that the new rates system must have enshrined at its heart the ability to pay as a major consideration when calculating people rates. There were approximately 500 people at the event.

Speaking after the meeting DUP man said:

“Firstly I would like to thank David Hanson for coming to the Ulster Hall to face my constituents from Laganbank and people from all over Ulster who are going to be affect adversely by the governments rates proposals. It took guts for the minister to face an audience of 500 people who were almost universally opposed to his proposals. Having listened to the body of opinion in the hall this evening, I hope that the minister will now act upon what he has been told and re-think his rates proposals for Northern Ireland.

I indicated throughout the meeting that I wished to speak, but unfortunately I was not called. Had I been called I would have pointed out to the minister the glaring inconsistency of approach adopted by him, when on his own personal web-page he encourages his elderly constituents to apply for relief in their council tax, whilst in his capacity as a direct rule minister in Northern Ireland he has refused to countenance the introduction of capping and has so far yet to announce the introduction of a relief package for the vulnerable in Northern Ireland, which includes the elderly population. This is the nature of direct rule – applying one system at home on the mainland, whilst treating the population of Northern Ireland with callous indifference.

The overwhelming message from the meeting tonight was that the people of Northern Ireland are demanding a fair system of rates, based upon ability to pay. Government is not offering that: until they do there will be no support whatsoever for their proposals”, said the DUP Councillor.

Below is the text of a speech delivered at the monthly meeting of Queens DUP Association:

The DUP is a devolutionist party. We believe in devolution and we have consistently down through our party history advocated a devolved assembly at Stormont, administering British rule, making decisions affecting the every-day lives of the people of this part of the United Kingdom. We believe firmly that local politicians know better than any direct rule fly-by-nights what’s best for our community.

Indeed while Sinn Fein/IRA were declaring 1972 their year of victory in their attempt to bomb Ulster into a United Ireland, and whilst leading Ulster Unionists spent much of the 1980’s advocating a discredited integrationist approach, it was the DUP that advocated a devolved settlement here. Of course many people will see the extreme irony of Sinn Fein, many of whose members were convicted of terrorist offences aimed at ending British rule in Northern Ireland standing on a position advocating an immediate return to a Stormont assembly. That reality shows just how failed the Provisional IRA’s terrorist campaign is, was and remains. They have failed to deliver their cherished United Ireland.

The DUP has been a consistent voice for devolution. But we must remember why we do not have devolution in Northern Ireland at the present time. Stormont is suspended and devolution is not functioning for one reason and one reason alone – the failure of the Provisional IRA and its political wing Sinn Fein, to live up to the democratic standards expected from every other party in Northern Ireland.

It is their failure to meet those standards that has led to the political impasse that we are facing now and until such times as they meet those requirements there will not be devolution – it is that simple.

In the past others, notably David Trimble took Sinn Fein at their word and look where it got us: stop-start, up-down devolution that was hostage to the whims of P. O’Neill and his colleagues on the IRA Army Council. We will not be going back there.

As my party colleague Ian Paisley Junior said recently support for the police and the rule of law will not be treated by our party as some sort of a quid pro quo: it is a basic and fundamental requirement. The people of Northern Ireland will not tolerate a situation where we have a party in the government of Northern Ireland, enacting laws on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland, while at the same time refusing to support the men and women who will be charged with the implementation of those laws in the PSNI. I welcome the fact that the SDLP has endorsed policing and while we almost certainly don’t agree over everything, particularly the issue of 50-50 recruitment, their democratic credentials are in no doubt whatsoever.

The adverse effects of direct rule are there for all to see: Jim Allister has rightly defined the governments approach as rule by spite in a transparently shameless attempt to force Unionists against their will to accept devolution on unacceptable terms. We will not succumb to such black-mail and remain wedded to our manifesto commitments. Sinn Fein/IRA knows what the conditions and requirements are for a return to devolution – the party’s recently published six-point plan makes that abundantly clear.

It is up to themselves alone to meet them.