On the hustings

Election to the assembly takes place on Wednesday November 26

BBC News Online takes a look at the political statements in the election campaign to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Wednesday 5 November 2003

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Diana Peacocke, UUP, North Down

Dreadful and nefarious deeds that have been carried out on older members of our society must be dealt with by harsh punishments. Once again, sentences need to fit the crime and I call for tougher sentences to be handed out to the perpetrators of such offences. Once again I call on the government to impose stronger sentences to act as a firm deterrent against these sorts of crimes.

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Sean Farren, SDLP, Antrim North
While the Celtic Tiger roared, too often in the north we let out nothing more than a whimper. The Republic (of Ireland) attracted huge amounts of inward investment, enjoyed record breaking economic growth and was promoted into the premier league of European economies. Meanwhile, we were stuck in the equivalent of the third division.

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Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Fein, Fermanagh-South Tyrone
We have recently completed a recruitment drive in colleges and universities across the island. The only party to do so. Young people within Sinn Fein are shaping our direction and policy regarding youth matters. We are demanding: voting age lowered to 16; abolishing student fees; student grants to replace student loans; minimum wage for 18 to 21-year-olds raised to same level as everyone else and action on young people's insurance premiums.

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Sammy Wilson, DUP, Antrim East
Martin McGuinness used his portfolio to open up another front in his campaign against the people of Northern Ireland. He set about destroying one of the province's prized assets - a first class education system. Our grammar schools, the envy of all the UK, have come under a vicious assault. On his last day in office, he threw the whole education system into disarray by announcing the end of the 11-Plus examination without providing an alternative.

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Robert McCartney, UKUP, North Down

I don't think people are impressed (by the UUP election charter). I think also they know I could even sign up for his 10 principles. So I believe could Ian Paisley. Because there was so much division within the Ulster Unionist Party, they obviously had to have something so wide and all embracing that literally any unionist could sign on. I think I have had only one person over the past two days that has mentioned the charter. It is a non-event.

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