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What Do the Northern Ireland Parties Say? Key Humanist Issues at the 2019 UK General Elections

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What Do the Northern Ireland Parties Say? Key Humanist Issues at the 2019 UK General Elections What do the Northern Ireland parties say? Key humanist issues at the 2019 UK general elections All party policies come from the respective party manifestos unless a specific reference is given. Sinn Féin do not take their seats or vote in the Westminster Parliament. A number of the issues that we work on are devolved to Northern Ireland. This means that in Westminster, the parties only legislate for England, or for England and Wales. As such, on some issues, we have presented the views of the parties in a Northern Irish context, and explained where it isn’t clear that the party would take the same approach in Westminster. NI Humanists question DUP Sinn Féin Alliance Party SDLP UUP Green Party of Northern People Before Profit Ireland Manifesto link: https://humanists.uk/GE Manifesto not published https://humanists.uk/GE https://humanists.uk/GE Manifesto not published Manifesto not published https://humanists.uk/GE 2019dup yet. 2019alliance 2019sdlp yet. yet. 2019pbp Will your party support No. DUP’s leader Arlene Yes. Sinn Féin MLAs have Yes. Leader Naomi Long Yes. SDLP MLAs have No stated policy. Yes. The Green Party has Yes. PBP MLA Gerry repealing Northern Foster previously told us previously told us that has told us ‘I support the previously told us it previously told us, ‘The Carroll has previously told Ireland’s blasphemy laws? ‘the DUP respectfully party policy is in support, repeal of Northern supports repeal. ‘When Green Party Northern us ‘I can confirm that 1 disagrees’, and defended and said ‘These laws are Ireland’s blasphemy laws.’ power-sharing is Ireland is fully supportive People Before Profit do maintaining the existing outdated and not Other MLAs have also told restored, the SDLP will of abolishing existing indeed support the call for law. representative of the us they support it too. continue to support blasphemy laws.’ ending of the blasphemy Ireland we live in today. efforts to amend the law laws. They are a relic of in this area.’ the past and need to be rescinded.’ Will your party support full No. ‘The DUP wants: The Yes. ‘The situation as No policy on abortion, Unclear. The SDLP When contacted by us in Yes. ‘Decriminalise Yes. PBP party policy access to safe, legal Assembly to act to fill the exists denies women their regards this issue as a describes itself as a 2017, said that this is a abortion. The UK is not states it supports abortion services in dangerous vacuum of law human rights, has caused matter of individual ‘"pro-life party’" but its matter of individual meeting its minimum ‘legislation for free, safe, Northern Ireland? and guidance that the loss of life and cannot be conscience for party politicians are free to vote conscience. Leader Steve human rights and legal abortion on both Creasy legislation creates. allowed to continue, and members. Leader Naomi with their conscience on Aiken will not support requirements for people sides of the border.’7 Our aim will be to stigmatises and Long has stated that ‘I abortion laws.4 attempts to repeal the across the UK in this maximise support for traumatises women and support decriminalisation, new abortion legislation.5 regard, and especially in mothers and protection of girls. Therefore, this with access to free, safe, Northern Ireland.’6 the unborn child.’ means that the 1861 Act legal termination within must be repealed in the strict gestational limits.’3 north and legislation must be implemented, north and south, which allows women access to abortion.’2 Will your party support No. Opposed to same-sex Yes. ‘Civil Marriage Yes. ‘We welcome the Yes. Leader Colum Allows members a Yes. Leader Steven Yes. PBP party policy legally recognised same marriage.8 Equality is an easy task extension of Same Sex Eastwood has stated that conscience vote on Agnew stated, ‘We are states ‘full support for sex marriages in Northern for republicans. In Marriage to Northern the SDLP ‘support equal same-sex marriage.11 determined to legislate for marriage equality in the Ireland? Stormont, Sinn Féin have Ireland from January marriage. We support an Leader Steve Aiken has equal marriage in a North.’14 consistently advocated 2020.’ inclusive, equal future, supported same-sex functioning Assembly... In 1 All responses to this question come from Humanists UK ‘DUP opposes repealing Northern Ireland’s blasphemy laws while all other parties come out in favour’ 12 July 2019: https://humanism.org.uk/2019/07/12/dup-opposes-repealing-northern-irelands-blasphemy-laws-while-all-other-parties-come-out-in-favour/ 2 Sinn Féin, ‘A Vision for Women’s Health, 2018’: https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2018/SF_Vision_for_Womens_Health.pdf ​ ​ ​ ​ 3 The Irish Times report, ‘Abortion in Northern Ireland where do the parties stand’, 7 June 2018: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/abortion-in-northern-ireland-where-do-the-parties-stand-1.3522879 ​ ​ ​ 4 BBC News, ‘SDLP members support conscience vote on abortion matters’, May 2018 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44174053 ​ ​ ​ 5 Belfast Telegraph, ‘I won't back Foster bid to overturn new abortion law: Steve Aiken’ 17 November 2019: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/i-wont-back-foster-bid-to-overturn-new-abortion-law-steve-aiken-38706203.html ​ 6 Green Party of NI, ‘General Election Manifesto 2017’: https://issuu.com/anthonyflynn_gpni/docs/gpni-manifesto-2017 ​ ​ 7 PBP, ‘Reproductive Rights Policy’: https://www.pbp.ie/policies/reproductive-rights-policy/ ​ 8 Belfast Telegraph, ‘DUP wants religious protections over same sex marriage written into law’ 23 October 2019: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dup-wants-religious-protections-over-same-sex-marriage-written-into-law-38621812.html and campaigned for its free from discrimination marriage.12 the absence of a introduction.’9 and intolerance.’10 functioning Assembly, the UK Government has a responsibility to provide equality to all citizens.’13 Will you support replacing No clear views on No stated policy. When contacted by us in No. Education policy When contacted by us in When contacted by us, When contacted by us, faith-based religious changing education about 2017, said ‘We support states that ‘We recognise 2017, said ‘Religious said ‘we would oppose said ‘PBP is for: Education education in state religious and undertaking a full and the value of faith based Education should remain any attempt to enshrine about religious and schools, and instead treat non-religious worldviews. comprehensive review of education and the taught in state schools, one religion above others non-religious beliefs’. all major religious and the curriculum to ensure initiative of various school children should (or above agnosticism or non-religious worldviews that a wide-range of churches in this regard.’15 also be made aware that atheism).’ equally? academic and vocational there are many different options is available.’ religions around the globe, as well as non-religious viewpoints.’ Will your party support No stated policy. No stated policy. No stated policy. No stated policy, but has No stated policy. No stated policy. Yes. ‘Abolish all school assemblies being stated that within ‘the requirements for equally inclusive of all SDLP model for compulsory religious pupils, regardless of integration … it is still instruction.’17 religion or belief, rather possible to have a than being acts of diversity of religious collective worship? elements built into the students’ weekly schedule.’16 Will your party support In the context of Northern In Northern Ireland, will In the context of Northern In the context of Northern In the context of Northern In the context of Northern Yes. 2019 Manifesto fully inclusive school Ireland, the DUP believes ‘Continue to encourage & Ireland, the Alliance Party Ireland, ‘the SDLP will Ireland, calls for ‘a single Ireland, when contacted states it has a vision of admissions with no that ‘sharing can produce facilitate the growth of… has committed to actively build and education system, where by us, said ‘We would call Ireland ‘that stops all discrimination on the educational, societal and Integrated and Shared ‘strengthening the promote the development children mix from age for the creation in forms of discrimination basis of religion? economic benefits’, and Education.’19 But also statutory duty on the of integrated education in four… but which also Northern Ireland of a and removes church has previously supported supports ‘parental Department for Education Northern Ireland so that it protects a family’s right to single, publicly funded, control of schools.’ In the the Shared Education Bill. preference – whether it and the Education becomes the educational education within a non-selective, integrated context of Northern It has also ‘secured a be in the integrated, Authority to promote the format of choice … there religious context.’23 secular education Ireland, ‘People Before £500m Treasury Catholic maintained, the development of is scope to develop system.’ Profit wants to see: An commitment to invest in controlled or Irish medium integrated education and integrated education integrated, all-ability shared education’.18 sectors.’20 In the Republic increasing the number of which builds upon the education system… We of Ireland, Sinn Féin ‘will integrated school places.’ faith element of schools.’ oppose the sham “shared end the laws that allow 22 education” programme for religious which simply reinforces 11 BBC News, ‘General election 2019: A simple guide to the Ulster Unionist Party’ November 14 2019 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50315905
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