SDLP urges 'all-Ireland poll'

Mark Durkan said the SDLP was "a progressive social democratic party"

The SDLP will engage in a campaign to persuade unionists on the merits of a united Ireland, the party has said.

In its manifesto for the Northern Ireland Assembly election on 26 November, the nationalist party said it would be seeking a referendum on a united Ireland within the lifetime of the next assembly.

The SDLP would be pressing for a referendum date as early as the forthcoming review of the Good Friday Agreement - expected after the election.

Party leader Mark Durkan said the SDLP was "a progressive social democratic party" determined to tackle "conflict, division and poverty" and "deliver peace, equality and justice".

In the foreword to the 33-page document, Mr Durkan said: "As a positively nationalist party, we make clear our commitment to achieving a united Ireland in which the key features, rights and protections of the Agreement will endure."

The main points of the SDLP manifesto include:

Expanding and developing north-south cooperation across all government departments as well as an all-Ireland strategy for tackling racism, an all-Ireland charter of rights and effective incitement to hatred laws

Resisting any attempts to renegotiate the Good Friday Agreement during the post-election review and proposing a duty of service on parties to fully participate in and operate the power-sharing executive and North-South Ministerial Council, preventing the blocking of nominations to cross border meetings

Arguing for the transfer of policing and justice powers to one department at Stormont within two years

Opposing efforts to put MI5 in the lead in intelligence gathering and insist it must remain in the police where it can be scrutinised

Defending 50:50 recruitment quotas for Catholics and Protestants joining the police and ending the use of plastic bullets

Creating an all-Ireland Criminal Assets Bureau and compiling an all-Ireland sex offenders register.

Ensuring every police district has a strategy to deal with sectarian crime

The manifesto also pledges to involve trade unions, businesses and the voluntary sector in a social partnership with the executive in agreeing a five-year programme for government.

It said the Review of Public Administration should be used to make government more responsive, accountable and decentralised from Belfast and that there should be a fairer rates system based on an ability to pay.

SDLP mainfesto pledges to focus on health service priorities

New borrowing under the Reform and Reinvestment Initiative would be directed to improve infrastructure and establish "not for profit" models for investment in public services, said the SDLP.

On the business front, it proposes the creation of a new 'Enterprise Growth Fund', providing loans and equity to commercial start-ups and promoting social economy enterprises.

Business growth would be supported through tax and rate relief on an offset basis against spending on research and development, training and marketing, said the manifesto.

Northern Ireland's entry to the euro is also one of the party's goals, as is focusing on areas of greatest need within the health service.

It is seeking improvement of rural access to services and the investment in acute hospital services in Omagh, County Tyrone, as well as free nursing and personal care for the elderly coupled with the freeing up of 10% to 15% of beds currently blocked.

The manifesto also advocates:

Creating a new all-Ireland transport and infrastructure body to develop air and sea ports and economic corridors

Opposing privatisation of the water service, domestic metering and charges

Fully implementing the Homelessness Strategy, eradicating fuel poverty and releasing funds for the replacement of Economy 7 heating systems

Ending the 11-plus and academic selection with the introduction of all-ability, co-educational schooling based on parental choice

Replacing A-Levels with a broader post-16 curriculum and widening access to education, targeting low income families

The party also pledged to establish a new all-Ireland food marketing body and complete the all-Ireland animal health strategy.