Alliance Party 28/04/2014 Party Election Broadcasts for the European Parliament

Amazing changes happen to our lives

when people embrace forward-thinking ideas.

It's easy to forget just how powerful we can be

when we step forward and choose something new.

"Who wants to hear actors speak?" argued Warner Brothers film studio

back in 1927 when someone suggested an improvement to

silent movies.

"Guitar groups are on the way out," said a Decca Records executive,

explaining why they were turning down The Beatles in 1962.

But people soon proved them wrong.

Change happened when people stepped forward. It happens in politics too.

100 years ago, women in Northern Ireland stepped forward,

a few at first, but the numbers quickly grew. They'd had enough of

the way things were. They wanted equal rights to vote for

the people who governed them.

The idea that women shouldn't have the same rights to vote as men

seems extraordinary now

but it only happened because women stepped forward.

50 years later in Europe and the USA,

another generation stepped forward

seeking equal votes for everyone and an end to discrimination.

Some in authority tried to resist, but the case for change,

and the numbers demanding it, were too strong.

All over the world, change happens when people step forward, even here.

In 1998, three out of every four people stepped forward

to endorse the Good Friday Agreement,

making clear their intention that no-one,

whether politician or paramilitary, should take Northern Ireland back.

That belief in the power of people to change things

motivated those who stepped forward

and started the Alliance Party over 40 years ago.

And it's what still drives us today.

We believe that most people here actually want things to be better

and we believe that, if enough people step forward,

our politics, our economy

and our community will take big steps forward too.

Steps towards openness,

prosperity and diversity. Big steps, like making all our public spaces

shared, where everyone feels safe to live, work and play,

free from the intimidation that comes

from having flags and murals that say "keep out".

But not all politicians support change.

Many are happy with the way things are.

People stepping forward doesn't suit their agenda.

Things staying the same suits them very nicely, thank you.

After all, it's easy to say no, to stand still,

or, worse, to take steps backwards.

Much harder to step forward into the future

and imagine shared schools where children from different backgrounds

are taught together and learn to respect each other's culture, not to

mention the millions of taxpayers' pounds it saves us every year.

But this isn't our only plan

to help Northern Ireland take big steps forward.

We also want to reduce needless, wasteful bureaucracy

and to make public services more transparent, to invest

in better childcare, innovation and sustainable transport,

in education, apprenticeships and youth employment initiatives.

But the steps forward we want to take aren't just local.

Our candidate for the European election, Anna Lo,

represents the new modern face of Northern Ireland.

Part of our community for 40 years, Anna initially stepped forward

to represent the needs of ethnic minorities,

but her principles of inclusivity,

diversity and equality appealed to a much wider audience.

She was embraced by the people of South Belfast

and when they stepped forward to support her in the last

Assembly elections she won a landslide victory.

Now, Anna is stepping forward to represent all of us

in Northern Ireland.

She offers us a chance to show a new face to the outside world,

a chance for Northern Ireland

to tell the world that we're stepping forward.

With Anna in Europe, we plan to negotiate larger

inward investment for projects that promote a shared and equal future.

We will work hard to create smoother,

faster access to larger European markets for local businesses

and we'll use our voice in Europe to promote our climate change agenda

and, in doing so, secure investment for clean energy projects

right here at home.

But to help Alliance take these positive steps forward

we first need you to do the same.

These ideas can only become reality,

change will only happen, if people like you step forward.

If you've had enough of the way things are,

don't sit at home frustrated, don't let others hold our community back.

If you want Northern Ireland to be a better place for everyone,

full of equality, opportunity and prosperity,

on May 22, step forward.

Vote Alliance.