Belfast News: One MP Has Gone To Their Heads?

Having one MP has gone to their head, the view of an East Belfast resident after hearing that the Alliance Party is planning to introduce a range of bills across issues such as NI Water, shared education and housing.

The proposed legislation is to be tabled in the next Assembly, following the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections and would see Northern Ireland Water become a self-financing mutual company. Alliance Party leader David Ford said NI Water's current status as a government-owned company was not sustainable. Mr. Ford said bringing NI Water back under control of the Department of Regional Development would 'undermine efficiency drives and be a drain on the block grant'.

Editorial

Mr. Ford's comments may play well to his party colleague's but not all the electorate are impressed. It would appear to be a pointless exercise in arrogance, to plan to table bills without first, selling your policies to the people they affect.

Given the fact the Northern Ireland Assembly has toyed with the fears of the public on the issue of NI Water, the best way to protect the public from further abuse and threat of privatization is to bring it under the direct control of the Minister, as outlined by Conor Murphy. 

To introduce a bill planning to change a major Northern Ireland utility to a mutual company, given the current lack of control demonstrated over the winter, we consider reckless but to announce that you are to introduce a bill as opposed to first consulting the public, is in our view 'arrogance'.

Last Updated: 2nd March 2011