SDLP leader Claire Hannah on her vision for change – The Irish News

Politics in Northern Ireland is rarely easy, but always rewarding. As I take on the role of leader of the SDLP, I have no illusions about the significant work involved in improving policies for the people and for the SDLP.

After a difficult election cycle, I’m focused on revitalizing our party and connecting with people in a way we haven’t always done in recent years.

While the SDLP remains confident in its vision and values, we sometimes struggle to communicate these to voters. I admit that sometimes the SDLP’s answers are complex: we live in a complex place and are not prone to simple platitudes.

We are rightly proud of our past, but we know that our job is not to tell people how great John Hume and Seamus Mallon were, our job is to make people feel the way they made people feel – presented, confident, safe, reassuring.

Over the past few weeks and in the months ahead, I will be visiting every constituency in the north to meet elected representatives, party members and the public. I want to expand our team, attract more people to political activity. Change starts with getting more organized in communities and listening to people’s opinions on the issues they care about.

These changes will not happen overnight, but there are so many talented and principled people in the SDLP who know that what we are currently being offered politically simply is not good enough, and who are determined to work on behalf of their communities and for the public good. A centre-left and anti-sectarian New Ireland.

I truly believe that the SDLP’s vision and values ​​can resonate with many more voters if we invest the time and effort in connecting with them. We are committed to using all available democratic levers to improve the lives of the people we serve. Nowhere is this more relevant than constructive opposition at Stormont. It’s not about knocking a leader down for the sake of it, but about stress testing his decisions, challenging the group’s thinking, and introducing new ideas that will help provide the services and economic opportunities that people deserve but aren’t getting.

We want Stormont to work, but that’s not the end of our ambitions. As Social Democrats, we have a relentless focus on the needs of the people here and now, and we will push for this and build and persuade for a new Ireland. We believe that these dual missions are entirely compatible, and that a fair analysis of the kind of broken state we find ourselves in and where power lies makes a compelling case for constitutional change. This is the biggest and best idea. This is not about the victory of one tribe over another, but about the ability to improve the morals of people: a new Ireland is not an end, but a means to bring about change.

We achieve this in the north and in the south, where we recognize that persuasion is also necessary. We will celebrate the identities and values ​​that we Northerners share and make it clear that the people of our region will be an asset and a fiery northern star who can drive what truly needs to be “new” in the New World. Ireland.

We think this reconciled, prosperous new Ireland is the biggest and best idea, but our belief in it will never distract us from the bread and butter problems people face in their daily lives. We don’t have to wait for a border poll to make a difference in people’s lives.

We firmly believe that this region is being let down by instability and by a government that constantly seeks praise while accepting very little responsibility for the challenges we face. We will exhaust all avenues of engagement with the UK Government, including at Westminster, but we have no illusions about where our region fits into their priorities.

We need more than table crumbs—we need hope. I have found it interesting to see the changes taking place in the Irish Republic over the past few years, and I want to see that happen for everyone here. A society that embraces difference and celebrates the arts, a progressive foreign policy, and open, dynamic opportunity that seizes every opportunity that comes its way. This is the future that is being offered to us, and the SDLP wants to help choose and build it.