"Wretched, useless government" - Allister's verdict on Stormont
01 October 2009
Extract from a speech by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC:-
“This incarnation of Belfast Agreement devolution has been a con!
“Instead of hands-on local control making a difference, the lives of ordinary citizens, at best, are unimproved; instead of slashing needless waste, we see growth in Quangos and right at the top of government a bloated OFMDFM of 400 staff; we have more spin doctors and so called ‘special advisers’ than ever before; instead of openness we have deliberate concealment, for example, no member of the public is allowed to know how much taxpayers’ money any of these political placemen, who pose as ‘special advisers’ are actually paid. It’s a shameful Stormont secret.
“Instead of saving money, we are wasting £130m pa on useless north/south bodies, £8 pa on MLAs expenses, millions on salaries and many more millions on the Stormont administration itself. Apart from those who live off the political industry at Stormont, would anyone really miss this miserable, failing government?
“As for addressing the real needs of people, what has this regime done for education – brought devastation and chaos! What has it done for jobs, apart from jobs for the boys – its impotence is notorious and Invest NI a shambles! What has it done for orderly administration – engendered endemic deadlock and misgovernment by veto.
“There cannot be a more wretched, useless government anywhere in the western world than that which preens itself in Stormont. It is no coincidence that it is also the only government in the western world which, by law, cannot be voted out of office, because of the iniquity of mandatory coalition. Guarantee entry to government by right, rather than by merit and don’t be surprised when you inevitably get bad government. You can’t put terrorists in government and then expect good government.
“So, the shambles at Stormont is no surprise to me. Nor, will it improve!”
