Everything Ulster - Election 2005

THE DUP has launched their manifesto and, again, the BBC have compiled a report. I've used the BBC report on their manifesto, checking a few details in the document itself, to compile my own analysis...

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• Opposing the reduction of police numbers and moves to scrap the reserve and campaigning for the retention of smaller police stations, particularly in rural areas
  The last I heard was the Chief Constable saying he was understaffed. Assuming that this is happening, this policy seems to make sense. I think decisions on police numbers should give more weight to Hugh Orde's opinions and those of other professionals, rather than playing 'green and orange politics' with our safety. I'm not sure about the smaller police stations – they want to oppose the move towards fewer but larger stations. Centralising the stations must have some benefits, particularly in areas where there are many stations scattered over a relatively small area.
• Demanding a more balanced approach by the Assets Recovery Agency to the stripping of loyalist and republican paramilitaries and criminal gangs of the proceeds of crime
  I'm sure this one will be a vote winner among the section of unionism determined to out-MOPE Sinn Fein. I think there are several reasons why the ARA are more successful with loyalist gangs – the main one being that they just aren't as smart or sophisticated, and the IRAs take a lot more of their proceeds out of the country.
• Supporting tougher sentences for those who commit crimes against the elderly, different treatment for those who perpetrate hate crimes, mandatory minimum custodial sentences for criminals who commit repeat burglaries, longer sentences for paedophiles and proper justice and support for victims of sex crimes, an imaginative approach to tackling alcohol-fuelled violence
  Fairly predictable really, lock everybody up for as long as possible. May be justified, but nothing new. I wonder if their 'imaginative approach to tackling alcohol-fuelled violence' involved a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol. One would have thought if they really wanted to be imaginative about it they could have given us a bit more insight into what their imagination had conjured up so far. Lots of nice words, but nothing firm from what I can tell.
• Opposing plans to introduce water charges. However, the party said if ministers pressed ahead, the regional and domestic rates should be reduced to reflect the cost
  Good to see the DUP jumping on the same bandwagon as the SDLP and presumably the other parties too. Let's face it, who's going to come out in favour of water charges? Well I am. Yes, the water charge component of the rates should be eliminated at the same time, but I've no problem paying for my water – but it MUST be metered, which is not part of the current plans, which I do oppose on those grounds. The DUP say they want the overall level charged to remain the same as it is now, which is highly unlikely. Northern Ireland pays less local tax (rates) than the rest of the UK does (council tax) and it's only fair that we pay our way. The parties should be working together to ensure the rate imposed is fair, rather than insisting things should stay as they are.
• Opposing plans to raise domestic rates and base them on the value of people's homes
  Don't know how the rates actually work at the moment to be honest – being a tenant it doesn't concern me. It does seem odd that with the big kick up about council tax in England, the government it set to impose something that is essentially the same here.
• Opposing plans to reform post-primary education on the grounds that it will threaten academic excellence and destroy grammar schools. It says ministers should not rule out selection based on academic ability
  Certainly agree with this one. I had the fortune of getting a place in a grammar school with a huge catchment area, a school that I would likely have been unable to attend under the new proposals – either because it would go private and be too expensive, or because I live too far away. I don't think school choice should be decided on post code.
  However in their manifesto the DUP oppose the CFF on the grounds that it favours Catholic and Integrated schools. Certainly Catholic schools should be given no preference over state schools, but there I believe in supporting integrated education as part of a solution to community relations issues as a whole. My only gripe with integrated schools is that,as far as I know, there are no integrated grammar schools as they are all comprehensive.
• Demanding greater transparency and detailed audit trails for the health service, less bureaucracy, the same standards of care as other parts of the UK
  A bit wishy washy I think. On one hand they demand less bureaucracy, but at the same time they want detailed audit trails – am I missing something or does one completely counteract the other?
• Banning smoking in public places
  Excellent! Looks like the DUP are on board with the Ulster Unionists' position, the SDLP position, the Alliance position and Sinn Fein's position. The only question now is, if they all agree what's stopping them?
• Providing free public transport for people between 60 and 65, an increased state pension, free personal care for the elderly and for those who suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia, a deduction of 25% for senior citizens on all rates bills
  And how much is all this going to cost? With all the DUP's opposition to paying pretty much any tax, I have to wonder if they've costed any of this!!
• Ending the beef export ban in Europe and ensuring farmers get a fairer price for their produce and reducing the influence of major supermarket chains
  UK supermarkets were recently cleared by the Office of Fair Trading in a review of their deals with suppliers. Lifting the beef ban seems like a no-brainer given the amount of time since the last scare. Would anyone in the EU import it though?
• Supporting more streamlined and effective local government and a more joined up approach to waste management
  They don't have a choice on the local government really, it's happening whether they're "supporting" it or not. Their "joined up approach" to waste management sounds good, pity there's no details here, just meaningless buzz-words.

The DUP manifesto is certainly professional looking and I applaud them for that. They also mention tackling racism, which is a serious problem in loyalist areas, which I'm glad to see them raise, however I wish it had been given more prominence. Also, for a manifesto that claims the election is not a fight between themselves and the Ulster Unionists, they spend a lot of time attacking the UU's and specifically David Trimble – possibly moreso than they spend on the IRA. If that's not a telling sign of the sad state of local politics I don't know what is.