This weekend,  Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson addressed his party conference for the last time before the General Election and launched his ire at losing his seat in Westminster last time out. Talking of the DUP candidate’s chances for East Belfast next May he said:

There may be other unionists in the field, but they will only serve to divide the pro-union opposition to the flag-lowering, parade-stopping, gay marriage-supporting, pro water-charging, holier-than-thou Alliance Party.

It’s an interesting choice of words, which drew applause from his audience but needs a serious look at the implications of what they mean, for our sister party in Northern Ireland.

The flag issue relates to the flying of it only on designated days. Alliance Party’s policy to fly it on those days for all councils across Northern Ireland actually means it will be flown on more flagpoles every time we mark one of those days. Only one party is taking this to those Sinn Féin and SDLP led councils and it isn’t the DUP who seem content to never see it in the second city.

The Parades Commission, part of the Belfast Agreement, stopped short a 2013 parade in North Belfast. Therefore Alliance is backing 71% of the population who wanted the issue of parades to be held by an independent body. Also the cost of policing nightly protests since July 2013 are probably enough to help pay for the Police Service of Northern Ireland cuts announced this week, or towards the combined police and fire service college that was recently shelved.

Water charging is something Northern Ireland has also held off on for a long time, while it’s part of the council tax paid elsewhere in the UK. Meanwhile the only additional taxing power the Northern Ireland Assembly wants devolved during this financial crisis is corporation tax, then only to cut it. So while the Assembly is already making tough financial choices the DUP will cut revenue causing more tightening of belts.

The final comment about being holier than though really takes the biscuit from a party that like the Pharisees in the New Testament are taking the Bible and adding their own righteousness on top of that. The only issue that this party is the largest in the Assembly and is turning that Democracy into a Theocracy.

In response I’m proud that the Alliance Party are actually the opposite of what Mr Robinson says and are in fact the flag equalising, police supporting, people respecting, equality enacting, fiscally responsible, good Samaritans for EVERYONE. I hope the people of East Belfast realise that too and return Naomi Long as their MP next May.

Photo by Alan in Belfast

* Stephen Glenn is the Chair of the Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats and a member of the Alliance Party. He has stood as a Westminster Candidate for the Lib Dems on three occasions.