Julian Smith says 2022 Stormont elections should be postponed due to coronavirus

Julian Smith gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of MPs today.

He said more time is needed to tackle educational inequality and address housing shortages once the devolved administration’s focus shifts from defeating the infection.

The next Stormont poll is due in 2022 and Julian Smith said devolved ministers needed an extended period to realise their priorities for Government.

“I think giving this Executive and Assembly time would help,” he said.

After a “decent” period voters may be able to take part in a more meaningful election, he said.

Julian Smith, Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon, said: “People want their services to work and Northern Ireland does work but I genuinely think that now we have had this crisis we do need to provide time to get those things improved.

“The overarching improvements in healthcare, the need to start delivering on City Deals (regenerating greater Belfast and Londonderry) and infrastructure projects and the need to look at education and educational inequalities that still exist, the housing deficit.”