Councillor Brian Pope

Alliance Party (Banbridge) Chair of Economic Development and Regeneration Committee at Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Northern Irish politics has witnessed a significant change in alignment over recent years as many people have become increasingly frustrated by the traditional unionist and nationalist, or green and orange, viewpoint.

A sizeable and growing proportion of the population are now confident in their identity, expressing themselves as Irish, British, Northern Irish or European, or all these identities. This has largely been the result of the positive out-workings of the Good Friday Agreement.

Disillusioned with the political inertia and stalemate at Stormont caused by the two largest parties there is a yearning to prioritise the every-day concerns of education, healthcare, economic development and job creation, infrastructure renewal, climate change mitigation, and many other challenges that society currently faces.   

There is also a strong desire to move beyond our often divided and troubled recent history to brighter times. A place which is outward looking, ambitious, compassionate and inclusive.

Therefore, this new online platform, launched jointly by the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies and Civic Space, is warmly welcomed. This is a positive opportunity to hear voices from across society, whose contributions are vital to our future success.