Stand up for Derry!

Paul Doran
The Politics Show Northern Ireland

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Martin McGuinness reports on the past year

History has a lot to answer for when assessing the relationship between Northern Ireland's two biggest cities.

The city of Londonderry received its royal charter when Belfast was a village on a river bank. And Derry itself is said to date back to the sixth century.

In one of his valedictory interviews Ian Paisley referred to "Northern Ireland's second city, Londonderry"; not a popular definition with some in the north-west.

This week on Politics show from Northern Ireland, Rosy Billingham reports on attempts to encourage economic growth in Derry.

Special pleading?

In October last year, Sinn Fein launched its Stand Up for Derry campaign calling for jobs and investment for the city. So is it a call to redress longstanding economic imbalance, or an example of special pleading?

The party's MLA for Foyle, Martina Anderson, presented a petition to the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister with 10,000 signatures calling for help with jobs, education and training, tourism, housing and transport.

"For too long direct rule ministers and civil servants who have been running the show have neglected the needs of the people of Derry," she said.

The campaign has not had full support from Derry politicians. The SDLP voted against a City Council motion calling for political backing.

Government jobs

The SDLP leader, Mark Durkan, is keen to stick up for his native city, particularly when it comes to the redistribution of government jobs, but the argument applies to all areas west of the Bann.

"This isn't just a Derry thing. And my argument has been if they're going to sell off government buildings in Belfast, don't lease them back in Belfast," he tells Rosy.

Local businessman Martin McCrossan is another Derryman who is sure the city is getting a raw deal.

"Everything is focussed in Belfast and nothing in Derry. Devolution is great for peace, but for a fair share of money - certainly not."

Perhaps the BBC's Gerry Anderson has the explanation for what Belfast people see as Derry chippiness.

""Are Derry people whingers? I say two things. Firstly, they probably are. But secondly, they have a very good reason to be so."

The Politics Show

The Politics Show for the Northern Ireland, with Jon Sopel and Jim Fitzpatrick on Sunday 04 May 2008 at 1200 BST on BBC One.

You get a second chance to see the programme again that night, at 22:55 BST on BBC One.

Let us know what you think.

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