NI21
NI21 | |
|---|---|
| File:NI21.png | |
| Leader | Basil McCrea MLA |
| Chairman | Tina McKenzie |
| Founded | 6 June 2013 |
| Youth wing | None |
| Ideology | Progressivism Third Way Nonsectarianism Unionism |
| Political position | Centre |
| Colours | Teal, Green, Blue |
| Overall seats in the House of Commons | 0 / 650
|
| House of Lords | 0 / 724
|
| Northern Irish seats in the House of Commons | 0 / 18
|
| Northern Ireland Assembly | 2 / 108
|
| Local government in Northern Ireland | 0 / 582
|
| Website | |
| www.ni21.com | |
NI21 is a pro-Union, non-sectarian political party in Northern Ireland founded by ex-Ulster Unionist Party MLAs Basil McCrea and John McCallister that holds two seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
History
The party was founded by McCrea and McCallister several months after their resignation from the UUP when they left over what they saw as plan towards merging the UUP with the Democratic Unionist Party in the choosing of a joint-unionist candidate (Nigel Lutton) for the Mid Ulster by-election of 2013.[1]
The party was officially founded on the 6th of June 2013 with a livestreamed press conference in the Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast. Its name refers to the 21st century, putting itself forward as a "modern party".[2]
NI21 takes a unionist stance on the constitutional issue, although makes an effort to try to appeal to all sides of the community, their party describing its self as a "confident, generous and progressive pro-UK party".[3] It was claimed that the party represents moderate political views, including left of centre voters.[4] It was stated that NI21 would attempt to form an official opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly,[5] which would be the first official opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly.[2]
The new party has already come under some criticism for being too centralised around Basil McCrea and John McCallister, and for McCrea's immediate appointment of himself as leader. It has also been criticised for going under the designation of "unionist" in the Northern Ireland Assembly rather than "other" despite being a cross-community party. McCrea responded to this criticism in the founding speech of the party, saying that the designations in the assembly do not matter, and claimed that the constitutional issue in Northern Ireland has been "settled" by the Good Friday Agreement and St. Andrew's Agreement.[2]
The party also attracted criticism in its first week following comments made by Basil McCrea seen as being in support of polygamous marriage [6]
References
- ^ "Basil McCrea 'likely to form new party' to challenge DUP and UUP". BBC News. 15th February 2013. Retrieved 7th June 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ a b c Cromie, Claire (6th June 2013). "NI21: Basil McCrea's launch speech in full". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7th June 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Cromie, Claire (6th June 2013). "Launch of Basil McCrea and John McCallister's new political party NI21". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 6th June 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "NI21's task is to live up to expectations". Belfast Telegraph. 8th June 2013. Retrieved 9th June 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Leader of new party NI21 seeks to enthuse non-voters". Irish News. 7th June 2013. Retrieved 9th June 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ McBride, Sam (8th June 2013). "Hours after launching, NI21 in polygamy row". Belfast Newsletter. Retrieved 9th June 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help)
External links