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.

Thursday 6 November 2003

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David Trimble, UUP, Upper Bann

We are going to improve our position compared to the last election, the 2001 election. I would be very disappointed if we do not extend our lead over the DUP in terms of our share of the vote compared to 2001. But it depends on turn out. The big joker in the pack is turn out. If people think it is going to be okay and they can stay at home and not bother going out on a late November evening, who knows what the result will be? So people will have to be careful about it. This election is crucially important.

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Eamonn McCann, Socialist Environmental Alliance, Foyle

The best way to copperfasten peace is to offer a way forward to all who are mistreated and done down in our society, irrespective of religion or whether they have a religion. There is no solution to problems of poverty in one community which would not also be a solution to problems of poverty in the other community. We will advance together or not at all.

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Patricia Lewsley, SDLP, Lagan Valley

Red tape strangles enterprise, destroys jobs and sucks the life out of communities. Only the SDLP are determined to cut through the red tape and deliver more money where it matters - in the front line of our public services. We will impose a strict cap on civil service and bureaucratic spending. Money that would have gone into the pockets of consultants, expense accounts and glossy booklets will now go into hospitals, schools and action against crime.

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Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat leader visiting Northern Ireland in support of the Alliance Party

There is a genuine feeling here that people want the democratic process to re-engage. They do not want to see politics continually stymied... People want to see the day-to-day issues tackled in this campaign. They want to see debates about schools, hospitals and other issues and they want to see the local democratic process put back on track. Alliance is in a key position to do that.

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Gregory Campbell, DUP, East Londonderry

Today's announcement of its five deliverables by the UUP is another damning indictment of the shoddy manner in which their campaign has been thrown together. They are reminiscent of proposals produced by a party that is more interested in a headline than seriously thinking through what can be achieved. This is yet another sign of a party which is in disarray.

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Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein, Belfast West

Much has changed in Belfast over the past 20 years, since Alex Maskey became the first Sinn Fein councillor in this city. Since then, Sinn Fein has become the largest political party in Belfast and our track record is there for everyone to see. We delivered in our communities, in City Hall, in the assembly and in the peace process. Sinn Fein is facing into this assembly election confident of making gains in the city.

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Monica McWilliams, Women's Coalition, Belfast South

The people are ready now. They want to have their voice heard, and I think they want a voice of difference, and that is our voice. We also have very serious issues, not just on the constitutional position, but on policing and criminal justice. Our manifesto is also asking people to become obsessed about things in peacetime that they never had a chance to focus on during all those years of conflict.

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