John McCallister: Opposition bill a victory for democratic politics

On Monday night the Northern Ireland Assembly changed.
The passing of the bill is a positive news story for Stormont, says John McCallisterThe passing of the bill is a positive news story for Stormont, says John McCallister
The passing of the bill is a positive news story for Stormont, says John McCallister

Unlike other democratic parliaments, the Assembly did not have an official Opposition.

But my Assembly and Executive Reform Bill had its final reading on Monday and was passed by the Assembly.

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Now there is a place in the Assembly for an official Opposition. The passing of the bill is a positive news story for the Assembly and another example of what MLAs outside of the Executive can do.

Politics which does not deliver and which has no prospect of change becomes stagnant and superficial.

With the passing of the bill, voters can go to the polls on May 5 knowing that their vote really can count and that parties cannot cosily assume that the Executive must necessarily embrace every party.

An Opposition would provide scrutiny and an alternative – forcing the Executive parties to focus on governance and outcomes.

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It would allow voters supporting the minor Executive parties (SDLP, Alliance and – until the past few months – the UUP) to know that their votes, rather than simply securing a token chair at the Executive table, will actually create an official Opposition to hold the Executive to account.

This is now the challenge for the political parties; it should be made clear to voters before May 5 what each party will do: enter the Executive or form the Opposition.

As the bill made its way through the Assembly, it was clear that across the political divide, the view was shared that reforming the Assembly to create an official Opposition was an idea whose time had come.

Some parties – DUP, Alliance, TUV and Greens – enthusiastically supported the bill. The SDLP and Sinn Fein were cautious but worked with me on their concerns.

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I thank all these parties for their engagement and significant contributions.

Others were reluctant supporters, but realised that the momentum behind the bill was too great, and fell in behind it.

I did, of course, want my bill to be even more ambitious – reforming how the Executive works, introducing collective cabinet responsibility, and removing the designation system in the Assembly in order that we can move away from tribal politics.

Some parties were not ready for such changes. This, however, needs to be the next stage of reform, an agenda that the next Assembly must address and something I will continue to energetically pursue from the backbenches, if returned in May.

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For now, those of us who have urged, debated and argued that Stormont needs an official Opposition have won an important victory.

It’s over to the parties to ensure that the voters have meaningful choice on May 5 – let the voters know whether you intend to opt for the Executive seat or become the Opposition the Assembly needs.

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