On the hustings

Election to the assembly takes place on Wednesday 26 November

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

Wednesday 12 November 2003

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Diana Peacocke, UUP, North Down

I call on available resources to be used to purchase speed cameras to save lives on the highly perilous roads across Northern Ireland. Once again we are witnessing what high speed can do, harm and injure at the very least, maim and kill as so often is the case on treacherous roads. The lives of those it has taken in the past and the grieving families left behind must see that it is not in vain.

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Alex Attwood, SDLP, Belfast West
The new Policing Board faced a baptism of fire. Despite the resistance of anti-Patten unionists, the SDLP ensured the full implementation of the Police Ombudsman's landmark Omagh report and the appointment of a new chief constable, Hugh Orde... Sinn Fein's decision to hand their seats over to anti-Patten unionists let down people in nationalist communities who are badly in need of proper policing.

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Gregory Campbell, DUP, East Londonderry
David Trimble is becoming more hysterical by the day. The pressure of the campaign is obviously getting to him. Rather than engaging on the issues, he resorts to unwarranted abuse and makes unsubstantiated claims. He claims that the DUP assertions are wrong, but where is the evidence to back this up? We can document and justify each and every claim we make. This is not a matter of argument, it is an argument of fact.

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Dr John Barry, Green Party, North Down
As we promised when we launched our campaign, the Green Party in Northern Ireland is the only party in this election that can call upon a wider Islands-wide and European network. Jean's visit (Green MEP Jean Lambert) is a great boost to us here in our campaign to bring the future-orientated and progressive Green political agenda to Northern Ireland.

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Alex Maskey, Sinn Fein, Belfast South (responding to the SDLP's Seamus Mallon)
This is not about defending the Good Friday Agreement. People know who have taken the risks and initiatives to defend the Agreement and who has delivered. This is about the SDLP desperately trying to defend their vote by conning people into believing it is a choice between them and the Democratic Unionist Party. It isn't.

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Billy Hutchinson, PUP, Belfast North
Recent examples at Hillsborough are a perfect example of where exclusion has allowed mistakes to become major problems when so few people are privy to developments.

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Eileen Bell, Alliance Party, North Down
Today's Belfast Telegraph opinion poll indicates that Alliance is bouncing back. While one always has to be careful about reading too much into opinion polls, this is Alliance's best showing for at least three years. It shows that Alliance is beginning to bounce back and that a growing number of people are realising that tribal politics do not work. In an STV election, a small increase in support can make a big difference.

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