21 March 2006

'Out of step' politicians causing devolution log jam, says report

A report from the University of Ulster says that Northern Ireland’s politicians are "badly out of step with ordinary people" who strongly support the restoration of the Assembly.

The researchers, who examined how devolution has worked in Northern Ireland, also blamed the structures set up by the Good Friday Agreement for encouraging sectarian politics rather than providing an incentive for co-operation.

The study also found that support among DUP voters for power-sharing had doubled between 1998 and 2003, and that an increasing number of DUP voters also believe that their party leaders should be willing to compromise.

Presenting the findings of the research into devolution in Northern Ireland at a meeting hosted by the Social and Policy Research Institute at the University of Ulster today, Professor Charlie Jeffrey, Professor of Politics from the University of Edinburgh, said: “Devolution is popular among people from both communities in Northern Ireland. Exactly 50% of those questioned said an Assembly should have most influence over the way the province is run. And more than 50% plump for either a devolved parliament or assembly as their preferred constitutional option for Northern Ireland”.

Professor Jeffrey said the research blamed the current political log jam which has seen the NI Assembly suspended since October 2002 on a “failure of leadership by Northern Ireland politicians”, although he said their task was not made easier by the structures set up by the Good Friday Agreement which did not encourage those leaders to co-operate as aspects of the Good Friday Agreement encouraged, rather than constrained, antagonism between politicians.

The report noted there was a sectarian headcount approach to politics, reaffirmation of the single transferable vote for assembly elections which allows and encourages candidates to be elected by mobilising core votes within a particular community rather than providing incentives for cross-community electoral mobilisation. Also the requirement that assembly members designate themselves as 'unionist', 'nationalist' or 'other' consolidated was preventing any possible realignment along more conventional left-right lines.

The reports authors said that the appointment of Ministers one-by-one worked against joined up government and collective responsibility that might have glued the power-sharing government together, providing a model for wider reconciliation.

The findings follow an extensive investigation into Devolution in the UK – The Impact on Politics, Economy and Society by the Economic and Social Research Council. The probe, which cost around £5 million, explored the impact of devolution in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

The report said that the prospect of getting politicians to co-operate has become less likely amid the electoral polarisation which has seen the DUP and Sinn Fein become the biggest power blocs.

However, it pointed out that a survey of DUP voters shows there are signs of movement towards a position favourable for a relaunch of devolution.

(SP/GB)