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Several in Alliance Party could be new leader says David Ford | Several in Alliance Party could be new leader says David Ford |
(about 2 hours later) | |
David Ford has said there are several people within the Alliance Party who could succeed him as leader. | David Ford has said there are several people within the Alliance Party who could succeed him as leader. |
Addressing the annual party conference in Belfast on Saturday, he praised the work of his deputy, Naomi Long. | Addressing the annual party conference in Belfast on Saturday, he praised the work of his deputy, Naomi Long. |
He also highlighted the important roles played by Judith Cochrane, Anna Lo and Kieran McCarthy who will not run in the May elections. | He also highlighted the important roles played by Judith Cochrane, Anna Lo and Kieran McCarthy who will not run in the May elections. |
Mr Ford will not put his name forward to be justice minister after the Assembly elections in May. | Mr Ford will not put his name forward to be justice minister after the Assembly elections in May. |
The Alliance Party leader had held the post since policing and justice powers were devolved to Stormont in 2010. | The Alliance Party leader had held the post since policing and justice powers were devolved to Stormont in 2010. |
He intends to run for re-election as an MLA. | He intends to run for re-election as an MLA. |
In his address to the party on Saturday, he thanked Ms Long for all her work as the party's "lone voice in the House of Commons" . | In his address to the party on Saturday, he thanked Ms Long for all her work as the party's "lone voice in the House of Commons" . |
She may no longer be MP for east Belfast, but she had made a difference, he said, and he hoped she would join him at Stormont. | She may no longer be MP for east Belfast, but she had made a difference, he said, and he hoped she would join him at Stormont. |
"After the flag protests, the insults, the threats, the violence, Naomi added 4,000 votes to what we were told was the high water mark of 2010," he said. | "After the flag protests, the insults, the threats, the violence, Naomi added 4,000 votes to what we were told was the high water mark of 2010," he said. |
"Only a cynical five-party pact between parties which have been tearing lumps off each other ever since polling day, managed to scrabble together enough votes to unseat Naomi - and even then they couldn't manage to get 50% in a supposedly unionist seat like East Belfast." | "Only a cynical five-party pact between parties which have been tearing lumps off each other ever since polling day, managed to scrabble together enough votes to unseat Naomi - and even then they couldn't manage to get 50% in a supposedly unionist seat like East Belfast." |
Mr Ford said it was time for other parties at Stormont to end what he called their "delay, fudge and waffle" and to move faster towards building a united community. | |
He said Alliance was not a "split the difference" party, but he divided his criticism evenly, calling Sinn Féin "economic illiterates" and accusing the DUP of engaging in subterfuge over the issue of abortion. | |
He said Alliance was "the only party working for everyone" and that it was "determined to build a united community and transform this society". | He said Alliance was "the only party working for everyone" and that it was "determined to build a united community and transform this society". |