22/10/2011 Ulster Unionist Party Conference

Welcome to our mad to our coverage. It has been an eventful 12 month

for a party. -- 12 months. They painfully lost a ministerial place

at the Executive table. Mr Elliott made headlines by talking about the

scum of Sinn Fein in his acceptance speech, something which he

apologised for. This is the scene in the conference hall, with

benefits taking part in a question and answer session. In a short

while, they will hear the leader's speech. We will bring that to you

live at about 12:30pm. With me now is our political editor and the

Ulster Unionist deputy leader. First, let's hear from the party

chair man, who declared the beam of the conference to be recovery. He

also had strong words for some members of the Orange Order.

leader is determined that a specific campaign of action will

focus on rebuilding are based in the Greater Belfast area. -- are

based. We are deploying significant resources between now and Christmas

to conduct falling on a scale never before undertaken in Northern

Ireland. -- polling. This will gather evidence across every

Unionist constituency to determine why Unionists are stopping voting

generally, while they are not voting for the Ulster Unionist

Party in particular, and what actions by us might encourage them

to start voting again and to start voting Ulster Unionist again. This

evidence will inform our strategy for recovery and also determine our

relationship with other parties, particularly in seats where it will

be impossible to secure a Unionist when if there is continued

competition. -- you missed the green. As an Ulster Unionist Party

member and an Orangeman, I was ashamed and disgusted that a

Belfast lodge this offer it to dry and discipline our leader and

minister because they paid respects to a young police officer, murdered

by terrorists. -- saw fit to try and discipline.

APPLAUSE. They exhibited a greater Christian

charity than that large's members can ever hope to. But they did no

more than Unionist leaders before them, like David Trimble, Harry

West and right back to James Craigavon and Edward Carson before

them. I welcome the dismissal of this issue by the county lodges,

but this should never have been an issue in the first place and that

Belfast lodge has brought our institution into serious public

disrepute. Setting out by you have some soul-searching to do? I do not

think that is any surprise to the membership of the party, that we

need to look at things that work during the election, things we were

successful in. In rural areas in the West we had a good election. My

own constituency and district councillor had a very good election.

The Greater Belfast area had a very proper election. We need to look at

the factors, you know, David was talking about how you research that,

how we reconnect with voters. use it went wrong in Belfast?

were not connected with our voter base in Belfast. We were being

squeezed between the DUP and the Alliance Party in Belfast

constituencies and there was not the connection that the party was

in Belfast and relevant and engaged on the ground. How you get the

voters back? The need stronger candidates are new faces? -- do you

need stronger candidates, or new faces? The build it up. You need to

Cambus and engage with the public, like we are doing in other

constituencies, and working hard for the party to engage and to have

the party working well, you need to consider is working well in that

area and a MLAs with it. -- councillors. We are down in Belfast

to two MLAs and three councillors. That is a small base to build on.

But it is a base and we need to improve on that and whatever the

boundary changes throw at us, we need to be able to connect and we

will do that. What is your view, where did it go wrong in Belfast?

Belfast is an area where the Unionists have been squeezed

between a resurgent Alliance Party and the DUP. The Ulster Unionists

have to work out what they stand for and what is there appears to

voters. David Campbell talked about looking at their strategy in seats

where they cannot secure a Unionist win, their relationship with other

parties. That sounds like a deal with the DUP. If they go with that

approach, as they did swiftly after the council elections in

Castlereagh, where they announced an agreement with the DUP to ensure

the Unionists had a block, the voters will say, hang on, this is

DUP like, what is the distinguishing element? David

Campbell had harsh words for the Orange Order. In PR terms he should

have been congratulating them. That protest about Tom Elliot and Danny

Kennedy attending a funeral in PR terms did quite a lot for the of

the Unionist leader and simply buried some of the adverse

publicity he got at the time of the election for comments about Sinn

Fein. It put him back into the cab of the shared future. It is

difficult in terms of image and what is the difference between the

UUP and DUP. Ulster Unionist speakers have been much more at

left wing compared to the DUP's hang a heady. Is that per you need

to go to? Darth -- is that why you need to go to? We did not take it

as a left-right debate. We looked at the evidence and said, what is

working? For the Ulster Unionist Party, whatever the policy of

government is, it has to be based on outcomes and what works for

people on the ground. We looked at the antisocial behaviour debate. We

looked at the evidence. We are starting to work and make a

difference and the evidence is suggesting there is an impact.

terms of the electorate is that not wishy-washy? When it comes to

voting and the ballot box, people need to know where you stand. If

you change from one D bit to the next they will not know what you

stand for. -- Debate. I would say we have actually stood, and what

the electorate want is something that works, you can do this and try

and be populist and say, let's hang a antisocial use, but what people

on the ground won't, -- want, you want something that works, and you

are realistic enough to know the police can't solve it on their own.

You want a collective approach. When it moves into a criminal

matter you want the police to be there. You also expect them to turn

up when you call them, not drive past in a car for hours later. --

four R Slater. That is what people on the ground one. -- a want.

People are want action on the economy and things like fuel

poverty. Is the party marking itself out compared to what Sinn

Fein and the DUP are doing? They are saying that the Sinn Fein-DUP

domination is putting things to stalemate. They made an argument

that the system should change in the last election. They hold to

that in principle but it did not appeal to voters because of the

reduced of hope they got. Basil McCrea made an interesting

contribution in which he talked about the Executive settling for no

water charges, lower rates, no tuition fees, essentially shirking

the harsh issues. The problem for the Ulster Unionists will be if

they say we have to face up to the debt and raise water charges, rates

and tuition fees, but will be easy ground for the DUP to attack them

on. The Secretary of State's attendance today, is that not

another case of mixed messages? Surely, the leader said that was it

worth -- with the Conservatives, it was dead. We would like, and Owen

Paterson made it clear, they are determined to bring national

politics. It is how you try and normalised politics in Northern

Ireland, how you have a party that has influence here and influence at

Westminster as well. On things like the nation duty, we had a major

impact on that. The result with the PMS, the agreement before the

election, it made eight huge difference to 10,000 and more

savers. Those are the real advantages of having implements and

normalising politics in Northern Ireland, but you can have a proper

debate. -- that you could have a proper debate. What is deliverable

in Northern Ireland? We believe you should have agreement on a

programme for government because the government needs direction and

focus to move in. We are all over the place, ministers doing a thing

with no central focus. You go round the trade stands at exhibitions

here today, you will hear people crying out for a joined-up

collective approach towards child poverty, fuel poverty, the economy,

corporation tax. Where is the leadership from the DUP lead

Executive? We said there is none. - - Guisse.

Danny Kennedy has already addressed delegates this morning. He is

outlining his achievements as Regional Development Minister.

It is almost six months since I entered office as Regional

Development Minister and inherited what I can only describe as

Murphy's mess. APPLAUSE.

I am not going to dump on,, but really, it has been my job to clean

up Murphy's maze -- mess and give leadership. -- I am not going to de

bonne Conor Murphy. In my leadership campaign week pledged to

overturn the previous decision to introduce on-street car parking

charges. Over the summer months, I toured Northern Ireland, listening

to business representatives, councillors and many other people,

who were genuinely concerned about this proposal, --. It was clear to

me then that the one issue that mattered the most amongst people in

Northern Ireland is the economy. Action was required to make sure it

life could be made easier for traders and business owners. --

Make sure life could be made easier. We were prepared to deliver on our

manifesto commitment. A's -- APPLAUSE.

After intense discussions I was able to announce a fortnight ago

that trains will run on the core rain-Londonderry railway line for

most of the UK City of Culture year in 2030 -- 2013. -- Chorion-

Londonderry. We want to see further investment into that line. Such a

service would greatly help the local economy, operating throughout

Ireland, and assist our tourism potential. Despite a spurious and

unfounded claims and accusations from Sinn Fein that the Ulster

Unionist Party was not committed to the north-west, it was this party

back yet again corrected the mess from a Sinn Fein minister.

APPLAUSE. I have not been focusing on rail

services alone. Last week I announced plans for the Belfast

rapid transit project which will help transform Belfast into a

modern and attractive European city. I was able to confirm that the

green way it would not be a preferred route. -- would not be. I

want to commend party colleagues within this party who actively

lobbied for the Greenway to be retained. The Ulster Unionist Party

can and will deliver on issues that matter to people. We have had the

ground running in the past few months but there is still more to

be achieved. With me now, the Regional

Development Minister, and Joanne Dobson. You talked about do rail

link. -- the rail link. You talked about Conor Murphy's mess. Surely

their proposals and plans for that railway line were in his art trade?

I have said that I inherited the decision taken by Conor Murphy to

defer work on the Coleraine- Londonderry line. Once it became

clear and it emerged over the summer, I work with Translink to

bring forward a weight to deliver train services between Coleraine

and Londonderry, particularly in 2013. We are entitled to claim

credit for that. We are a party of government who have been listening.

The easy thing for me would have been to sit back and say it was not

my decision and I can do nothing about it. We have changed that and

we have made progress and I think that is welcome not only in the

north-west but all over Northern Ireland and particularly in the

railway services. Was it an admission by the party that Michael

McGimpsey got it wrong with It was the right thing to do. It

would have been a very poor reflection had we reached UK City

of Culture with no rail services between Belfast and Londonderry.

That would have been an untenable position for Regional Development

and the entire Executive. It is patchwork. Hundreds of millions of

pounds needs to be spent on that line. That is never going to happen

in the near future, is it? We are having to do in phases. That is

perhaps not ideal. This party did not do ferrets in the way the

previous party did. -- did not do Ferrer it. We want to keep it open

in 2013 and to continue to develop the service. Joanna Dodson, you are

on the agriculture committee. What you think you can bring to the

committee that is distinctive from the other parties? It is better if

you are a far yourself. You know the issues that are important to

farmers. I represent rural constituency. They know I will

fight for fairness for farmers. you be objective? Can you take your

own perceived bias out of the picture and make a decision that is

right for everybody? Of course you can. Being a farmer myself, it

gives you a greater insight. My job is to scrutinise. I will listen to

both sides of the argument and make a decision. Are you worried about

European reforms? Of course. I work very closely with Jim Nicholson in

Europe. And Robins Swan. We are fighting, standing up for the

farmers. How are you finding settling into the Assembly? A lot

of people on the ground say there is too much talk and not enough

action? The Ulster Unionist Party is all about action. We're doing

our best for the people of Northern Ireland. How does the party

recover? David Campbell talked about trying to do some soul-

searching and the possibility of electoral pacts. It is important

the party reconnect with the grass roots. And that we are seen to be

active on the ground working on behalf of people. We have much

progress to make on those issues. There is a very good spirit here

today at this conference. The conference is united. People want

to see this party prosper. They are prepared to do the hard work

necessary. How do you find being in the Executive? Alex Attwood appears

to be having a hard time. You seem to not have the trouble Michael

McGimpsey had as a member of the Executive. The Ulster Unionist

Party is at approaching this Executive in a positive manner.

We're working collectively. The task will be whether the Executive

can work together in a five-party coalition. All of the parties will

be given the opportunity to bring forward their views and policies. I

have brought a number of policies through. I am very hopeful the

other parties will continue to work constructively. That is what the

people said in the election result in May. We recognise that and we

are seeking to implement that. Enjoy the rest of the conference.

The overriding topic at the moment is the state of the economy.

Earlier, members held a debate calling on the Assembly to

rebalance the economy and prove -- improve the skills of the workforce.

Are we open for business? Are requested it. If we are, we pick

our skills and sectors. The Assembly has to weigh in behind and

make those difficult decisions that represent a common sense Government.

It is all Into related. The economy, health and housing, regional and

social development. That is why we wanted a programme agreed before

ministers ran off into their own departments, running them for their

own party political selfish interests. Last April, the

Department of Enterprise announced as short-term employment scheme.

�19 million ring-fenced did create employment. -- to create employment.

Six months later, not one job is on the ground. There has been one

announcement about jobs and another announcement that they are not

calling it the short-term employment scheme Annie Moore, they

are calling it the jobs fund. There are so embarrassed that after six

months they have not created a single job. If I give you �19

million and he did not have jobs on the ground in six weeks, never mind

six months, you would not sleep at night. Your conscience would not

let you. Are we open for business? Not until week's gilt up

accordingly. We are obsessed with the process of Government, with the

input. In a business model you only have been put so that you have

allowed pot and outcomes. What we are not good at as a Government is

saying, this is what success looks like, this is where we are, here is

the process that will get Oz from here to there. That process for me

has to be to pick our sectors and skill up our workforce accordingly.

Take tourism. The two targets for the tourist board are more tourists

staying overnight, and a bigger average spend. Who does that, --?

Golfers. We have three champions in Northern Ireland. If I was Arlene

Foster, a year ago I would have been off to California, the richest

state in the world. Arnold Schwarzenegger is governor. A man

who knows us here in Northern Ireland. I would have said, "Arnie,

Tiger Woods is not the best you Thank you very much. I have been

asked to be sure to! -- short! I would do my best. -- I will do my

best. The Secretary of State has joined us. We are proposing our

vision for the future of the economy of Northern Ireland. I hope

Secretary of State, you realise how real we as a party are. We are

driving the economy forward. I hope you take it on board and take it

back to the Prime Minister. There is an old saying that necessity is

the mother of invention. That is true. But Father is the creativity

and knowledge is the midwife. I have been asked to come forward and

realise and show how the creative industries can actually contribute

to the Northern Ireland society. The creative industries have not

achieved their full potential. The Department was initiated and driven

by an Ulster Unionist minister from the start. We missed out on the

potential that Minister had to deliver. Unfortunately, there is

nothing creative about the current minister. Unless it's in Irish. But

ladies and gentlemen, we should not underestimate the potential of the

creative industries. We are already playing catch up. We are starting

to get there. I'll give you an example. Screen Northern Ireland,

when they presented the game of thrones, filmed in Northern Ireland,

in my own constituency in north Antrim. It was screened worldwide.

Screened worldwide on Sky TV. It portrays a Northern Ireland,

creativity, scenery, tourism. We have the ability to grasp that

potential. But we're not making the full use of it yet. We have to

adapt that. That is one example. One television series. It brought

in �20 million worth of revenue. It created 550 jobs. Many people knew

about it. We watch it on television but we have not portrayed it as

being Northern Irish. That is where the potential is. We have to sell

everything that we have to make sure we capitalise.

Robin Swan adding a touch of humour. Basil McCrea joins me. You suggest

we introduce water charges to raise money? We have a lot of things to

do. Firstly, we have been convinced the people of Northern Ireland we

will do something sensible. We also have to say, if we do not do things,

there will be difficult decisions made in education, employment and

learning, universities, and a lot of young people will be out of work.

We have to think of creative ways of raising finance. You're Minister

could have raised some money in the parking charges? People

collectively need to look at this. Nobody has pulled together an

economic plan that everybody signs up 2. People are dealing with

things on an individual basis. I have no problem with people looking

after their own department. We have to do something bigger. The people

of Northern and and are expecting us to step up to the mark.

Northern Ireland. Water charges are one of the only ways we can raise

significant revenues. Surely it is an electoral suicide? Our economy

will be suicide in the next two to three years. When you look at the

budgets from learning, education, we are closing huge numbers of

schools. The pain is just beginning to start. People want options. If

you come up with a genuine alternative that you have engaged

the public with, reassured them an absolutely demonstrated you would

use the money wisely, I think you might get a different answer then

if you just come along and say, we would like to raise taxes. You're

on the Department of Education and Learning Committee. At the end of

your speech, you put under- achievers as one line. Surely that

should be the Ulster Unionist Party top priority, to get Protestant

under-achievers, twice less likely to go to university as their

Catholic counterpart? I was not intimating that was a any less

important. It is where we need to concentrate on. We need to make

some policies and help those under- achievers. It is very difficult.

People do see the DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party as

championing the cause of the transfer pests, championing the

grammar schools sector? education system... We have to

start from the bottom, from the early years, get a system in place

that helps everybody. In employment and learning, we are picking up on

those people to pick up on numeracy and literacy they missed out on

earlier. There are many areas we need to improve on. You are new to

the Assembly. How are you finding it when people are very critical of

what is going on at Stormont? We're in there to make a difference.

People are frustrated with how the Assembly has worked in the past. We

are really just trying to get stuck in there and make some changes and

to be more positive and to bring forward policies that will

encourage more people to get engaged with the political system,

so we can turn things around. have talked a lot about public

relations. Isn't fuel poverty the number one issue that your party

could be chomping at the bit getting something done about? So

that people this winter will have There are many issues that require

our attention. You could say educational under-achievement is a

priority, fuel poverty, social housing, all of these things are a

real issue. The money is strictly limited and we need to prioritise

things. What is your priority out of that list? What do you think is

the most important thing for people watching the programme today and

for anyone who would vote for you in the future? It depends on those

people's individual circumstances. For a young person, getting a job

is a priority. For someone in fuel poverty, who is may be elderly, but

is the priority. Everything in life is connected and you cannot deal

with it with the mentality we currently have. Some sort of winter

fuel payment scheme is not looking at things individually, that is

something you can change people's lives, this year? You could also

say the real answer to dealing with fuel poverty is insulation. We have

to get houses made warmer, for instance new houses hardly need

heating because they are so well insulated. Do we spend money now or

invest in the long term? Those are serious calculations that have to

be made. There is no silver bullet that will sort the issues out. We

have to reassure the people that we are taking it seriously and that we

are working hard at this, and we are competent to make decisions on

their behalf. But you are not campaigning for a winter fuel

payment? The issue, when you look at individual concerns, is one of a

balance of priorities. We will be talking about everything in the

round. It will depend on how cold or otherwise the winter is coming

in. I spoke only last week to Danny Kennedy about things like gritting

fit paps, people were stuck in their houses. -- footpaths. We

expect things to be better than last year. I have no doubt things

will come up a we were not expecting. We need to react much

quicker and get our communication strategy right as well. You did

want to be leader. You think things have settled down and there is a

status quo in the party? One of the good things about this conference

and the Assembly is what a good to we are. You can ask Xander --

Xander. I was talking about how well we are coming together with

policies and getting the message across that we are working together.

People come in and keep you on your toes, asking why you are doing

things in certain ways. Both Cassandra and Joanne are formidable

MLAs. It is a pleasure to work with them. We know we have to beat

United in terms of these issues. -- we know we have to be united. We

are able to be very reactive and quick on our feet and we think we

are making a difference in the Assembly. Was the Secretary of

State's appearance today a mistake, in your opinion? I think it was a

good thing. There is a challenge for Northern Ireland about how we

keep ourselves relevant with the rest of the UK. Every part of the

UK and Europe is under huge pressure about finances. Things are

not going well in many places. It is important that those with

influence on our daily lives are appraised of what is going on here.

The Secretary of State will take on board the comments made in the hall.

We hope to talk to him about funding and other issues. I will

let you go and listen to your party leader's speech.

Tom Elliot has taken to the stage for his keynote speech.

APPLAUSE. All right, ladies and gentlemen!

Chairman, my lords, ladies and gentlemen, you are very kind. I

welcome you all here and thank you for your support so far. Ladies and

gentlemen, it is common for the media to describe some leaders'

speeches as the most important that they have had to make. In this case,

it would be true, but I tell you, that is true of all my speeches.

LAUGHTER. APPLAUSE.

It is about laying foundations for the growth and expansion of his

party. This is about continuing the fight back and working to regain

the votes of the electorate. Ladies and gentlemen, when I became leader

in 20th September 10, it was at the very beginning of the election

campaign. -- September, at 2010. Many candidates had already been

selected. There was not going to be time to begin, let alone complete

changes, then I had been a death- defying is necessary during my

campaign. -- identifying as necessary. Like all of you, I would

have liked a much better result in the election. We did not do as well

as I would have wished. I want to find all of our Assembly and

council candidates for flying the flag and fighting the Ulster

Unionist Party corner. I want to back all of our members who knocked

on doors and down the campaigns. This party exists because of the

efforts, enthusiasm and sheer determination of our grass roots.

As leader, I am grateful to them and ladies and gentlemen, to all of

you here today. With some breathing space until the next election I

want to make sure that we are better prepared and fit for a

battle when the next contest comes. This is not about reinventing or

repositioning the Ulster Unionist Party my primary task is to set out

the process for recovery and ensure we have a clear agenda upon which

we can be judged at the next election. What is clear is that we

do not fool ourselves that if we said about and wait for other

parties to get it wrong rat somehow, we will reap the rewards. -- that

somehow. We cannot attack others and imagined such a strategy will

deliver dividends for us. We will point the finger when we believe

that our political opponents are getting it wrong. Let us be blunt,

there is no point in complaining about the failures of others if we

do not have something better to offer. It is fine to said that an

awful lot of people seem to have concerns about poor government. As

the Assembly election proved, many have not yet been persuaded to come

back to last. That has to tell you something. But it tells you is that

people are not ready to come back to ask, or even come to us for the

first time. Our job, in fact my job, is to give their reasons to vote

for our party. The only job of a government is to provide government.

It is not rocket science. It really is that simple. It needs to be a

government which addresses the pressing social and economic

questions addressing everyone here. They need to have politics is to

meet the needs of all the people of Northern Ireland. It cannot just be

about the transfer of power to locally elected ministers. It has

to be a government for Northern Ireland. Surely, ladies and

gentlemen, we did not spend 40 years working to restore devolution

just to end up splitting the block grant between a group of people who

choose it to end up doing their own thing. -- Accies to do their own

thing. There is no programme of government were speaking about.

There is self interest at the heart of the Executive. There is delay

about every decision. There is indecision on key issues like our

shared future. There is no overarching strategy for the new

Northern Ireland. There is a two- party car park, serving purely

sexual -- sectional interests. There is a lack of collective

ministerial responsibility. There is no real choice at elections on

how long we must put up with a flawed democratic process. How long

do we keep telling people that it is better than what we used to

have? The Assembly is certainly better than direct rule were being

better than direct rule is certainly no excuse for a lack of

pro-government. APPLAUSE.

-- pro-government. At the last election we put forward what we

describe as keen changing proposals, for improving government, which

would put eight programme for government upfront or -- rather

than a cobbled together afterthought. Proposals which would

begin an immediate process. Others paid lip-service to the proposals

during the election campaign and then forgot about them when the

campaign was over. They could safely get back to their hand-in-

glove relationship at the top table. Yet here we are, six months later,

and there is nothing concrete which either the media for general public

could describe as progress. That is utterly unacceptable. It is bad

government, it is the sort of leadership which will add to the

numbers of voters choosing to stay at home on polling day. Choosing

government must be based on mutual respect and interest. What we have

is a coalition government in which others often seemed to inspire

nothing -- to nothing higher than neutral and veto and avoidance of

uncomfortable realities. Irrespective of attempt by other

political parties to rewrite history the fact remains that there

would not be an Assembly and recognisable peace process if it

was not for the Ulster Unionist Party. Standing up for Unionism was

right. Standing up for Northern Ireland was the right thing to do.

The conditions for negotiations were never perfect, but they were

conditions which were always beyond our control. I want to tell you,

quite recently Peter Robinson made a speech in Liverpool and the most

telling paragraph in that speech to me was, and I quote: Whatever

anyone may say now, the position we adopted was consistent with our

electoral commitments and proved to be in the best interests of the DUP.

Ladies and gentlemen, it did not matter about it was not in the best

interests of the Northern Ireland public or that it may have been in

the best interests of the Unionist population, so long as it was in

the best interests of them, themselves. That's as much to me,

ourselves alone. APPLAUSE.

By contrast, ladies and gentlemen, the odds to Unionist Party wanted

devolution add good government, we wanted a genuine power-sharing

collective. The wanted cross-party co-operation that would make

Northern Ireland a better place. Unlike the DUP, we were motivated

not by selfish party political advantage, but by the benefit of

Northern Ireland and its people. There has been a great deal of

publicity recently about inquiries dealing with the past and victims.

Many families lost loved ones during the Troubles in shocking and

cruel circumstances and those loved ones included Pat Finnegan. All

families, ladies and gentlemen, are entitled to the truth surrounding

the circumstances of the death of their loved one. There has much

time and energy devoted to the case of Pat Finucane and animal that

families of many other victims have expressed her that their loved ones

have not been afforded equal attention. -- have expressed hurt.

I understand that. It is time to call a halt to the incomplete,

flawed and imbalance arrangements that are employed to do with the

past. -- to deal with the past. We need a mechanism rather than

processes that we write history and are painting the state and the

emergence of the state as villains. -- the edicts of the state. The

Ulster Unionist Party acknowledges the massive debt that this country

owes to the bravery the service and the sacrifice of our security

forces. Those people chose to put

themselves in harm's way and protect the citizens of this

country. It is a debt which can never be paid. The very least that

we can do is stand up and defend those and defend their reputation

when they are being slandered by those who choose to inflict

violence on the our Society. Currently I see no prospect of

finding a mechanism where everybody feels empowered to tell the truth

about what they did during the last 40 years. In the absence of that,

we operate a very uneven playing field, where the great majority of

the victims see the resources dedicated to a very few high-

profile cases. Even they often end up up feeling dissatisfied with

what they get. It is ultimately a question of trust. Trust, like the

truth in this province, is in a very short supply. But we also have

a task of addressing every day issues that affect all of us.

Issues like health, education, the economy, jobs, housing,

unemployment and safe roads. A climate of change is required in

every single area an aspect of life over which the Assembly has

responsibility. We must reconnect with the electorate and re-engage

with their interests than politics. We must create a form of evolution

which not only delivers but is seen to deliver. -- evolution. All of

the Assembly parties should be very concerned at the sky high levels of

public this interest. -- pays interest. We should be concerned at

the lack of interest there is in politics. After 13 years it seems

increasing numbers of people have lost faith, not only in local

politics, but in local politicians. I do not believe either of the two

largest parties should take any comfort. Many people who voted for

those parties did so in an attempt to stop the others from taking the

position. Rather than voting for the combination which they believed

would deliver a form of Government, they were instead voting to do the

other side down. That may suit the two larger parties. But on the

evidence available to me, it does not lead to good Government and it

certainly does not lead to public confidence. APPLAUSE.

But all of this represents a huge challenge for the Ulster Unionist

Party. It is up to us to attract the tens of thousands of Ulster

Unionist voters voting at the start of the peace process, who were not

voting any longer. It is about the Bank of policies which reflect the

needs of our macro-economy and our society. Do not think it cannot be

done. Do not ever think the mountain is too high, because it is

not. Sometimes in politics you do have to make a stand by yourself.

There is much talk about the need to get agreement on everything in

advance. People quite often forget that you can set your own platform,

agenda and programme. What matters most is that people know what the

Ulster Unionist Party stands for. What are our values are and what

our mission is. I am not sure enough people know that. If we do

it tell them, you can be certain our opponents will not tell them. I

just do not want people to vote for the Ulster Unionist Party because

they think of us are making a mess and failing to deliver on good

Government. I want them to vote for us, the Ulster Unionist Party,

because we have a vision for Northern Ireland that is worth

developing. I want them to vote for us because we are interested in the

people of Northern Ireland. Yes, we are the Unionist Party, but the job

of Government is to meet the everyday needs, demands, hopes and

expectations of our people. Ladies and gentlemen, those people are

here in Northern Ireland and no one else. -- nowhere. Let us look at

some of those policies. Let us remind ourselves of what the Ulster

Unionist Party have committed to. We have committed to affaire post-

primary education transfer system that gives the best opportunity to

all our young people, and ensure that we end the era when many leave

school without being able to read and write. A single education of

the map that does not allow a single education bodies to have

their own powers. -- authority. A health service that will meet the

needs of a whole community and one that is free. An economy that is

driven by an inventive private sector and produces efficiencies

within the public sector. But also, let us remind ourselves of what the

Ulster Unionist Party has done. The Ulster Unionist Party saved plunder

-- the Northern Ireland tax pair hit the �8 million by subscribing

generic brand drugs. -- tax payer. The Ulster Unionist Party put a �53

million back into frontline health services by completing the review

of public administration in the health service, and reducing the

number of health and social care bodies from 38 to 17, under the

auspices of the Ulster Unionist Party minister Michael McGimpsey.

But fellow Unionists, do not just think that was it all. We laid on

the progress of the evolution of corporation tax, we laid on

reducing air passenger duty on transatlantic flights. We delivered

on the promise not to reduce the Sinn Fein commitment of town centre

car parking charges in 30 tense throughout Northern Ireland. And we

delivered on our commitment to ensure a fair solution to the

Presbyterian mutual society savers Ladies and gentlemen, just remind

yourself of what the Ulster party - - Ulster Unionist Party did not do.

We did not bring forward proposals for a terrorist shrine at the

former Maze prison site. The Ulster Unionist Party did not bring

forward the Council model that will enshrine the national and

Republican majority in Belfast. -- and nationalist. The Ulster

Unionist Party has not overseen the increase to the highest

unemployment rate in Northern Ireland for over 13 years. And I

can tell you, the Ulster Unionist Party did not close accident and

emergency services at Lagan Valley in the city hospitals. The Ulster

Unionist party will fight for what is right for everybody in Northern

Ireland. I accept that we cannot do it by ourselves. We can provide the

Government - that we can provide, in isolation. It is a task that

must be shared. It is vitally important that at the core of the

Executive there must be a party, or parties that believe in power-

sharing and collective responsibility. Parties that want

to make a positive difference rather than parties that want to

sustain a stalemate and protect their own selfish interests. That

is the task and challenge for the Ulster Unionist Party. Now that the

review of the justice minister appointment process is fast

approaching, and it is due in May 2012, there is a perfect

opportunity to streamline and develop a much more efficient of

Northern Ireland Government. All parties have said they want to

reduce the level of Government structures at Stormont. I say here

today, now is your chance. You will not find us wanting. We have now

time to reduce the current number of Government departments from 12

to, let's say, eight. That is a reduction of a third. Right at the

heart of the Executive. I challenge others to follow the lead of the

Ulster Unionist Party. Letter card that burden on the taxpayers. Maker

sells more efficient. Give the public value for their money. Let

me make it very clear. If we do not do this together, then we will

convince nobody. Our opponents seek to put us down at every opportunity.

That is politics. If we do not demonstrate internal collective

responsibility and promote a cure and united vision, we only help

those who seek to do us end. If we do not exercise personal loyalty to

this party and collective loyalty to our all parties, we are doing

the job of our political opponents. Presenting ourselves as an

organised is it then efficient election machine is important. --

as an efficient. It really does not matter how organised we are... We

must ensure we provide the vision of the people of Northern Ireland

want and share. The recovery depends on two key elements. A

strong and disciplined party command a relevant platform for a

good performance. --, and a relevant platform. If members of

this party did not stand shoulder to shoulder and called from the

same agenda, we will continue to damage our cells. Teamwork and

unity of purpose is essential. We can only succeed if we do it

together, acting and the spirit of co-operation and goodwill. Can I

say, ladies and gentlemen, I have got great heart from this audience

today in that respect. Just coming to the end of Tom Elliott's speech.

Mark, or what BG make of it? He had one interesting thing to say about

reducing the number of Government departments. And using the business

of the justice ministry having to be sorted out. A few other elements

in relation to policy. In terms of the overall vision, I am not sure

if the Ulster Unionists have settled on their direction. One

thing he has not addressed at all is their relationship with the

Conservative Party, which has been raised by Owen Paterson coming here.

We do not know if they have given up completely. Is there a courtship

still going on? It is difficult because it is all about image when

it comes to politics and getting re-elected? Yes. There has been

talk about attracting the tens of thousands of Unionists. That is a

broken record at this stage. I have heard that several conferences. I

am not convinced they nowhere there are going. There is no talk of

leadership challenge. He seems solid in his job. Thank you very