Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Leader	David Ford MLA
Founded	1970
Headquarters	88 University Street Belfast, BT7 1HE Northern Ireland
Political Ideology	Liberalism
International Affiliation	Liberal International
European Affiliation	European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Parliament Group	n/a
Colours	Yellow, Blue
Website	http://www.allianceparty.org
See also	Politics of the U.K. Political parties Elections This work is copyrighted. ... for the Canadian Kayaker see David Ford (kayaker) for the English musician see David Ford (musician) David Ford is a Northern Ireland politician. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Belfast (Béal Feirste in Irish) is a city in the United Kingdom, and the second-largest city on the island of Ireland. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1... This article discusses liberalism as a major political ideology as it developed and stands currently, rather than specific ideologies contained to specific countries. ... The Liberal International is an international organization for liberal parties. ... The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (founded in 1993) is a liberal party, active in the European Union, uniting liberal and centrist parties around Europe which together represent more than 20 million European voters and is an international non-profit association incorporated under the laws of Belgium. ... The politics of the United Kingdom are based upon a unitary state and a constitutional monarchy. ... Political parties in the United Kingdom lists political parties in the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom has five distinct types of elections: general, local, regional, European and mayoral. ...

The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI), is a political party operating in Northern Ireland. They were formed in April, 1970 as an alternative to the established parties, particularly the Ulster Unionist Party. In the context of a rapidly worsening political crisis, the party aimed not only to present an alternative to what they perceived as sectarian parties, but to make that the primary policy of the party in contrast to the Northern Ireland Labour Party and Ulster Liberal Party. Alliance expressly aimed to act as a bridge between the Protestant and Catholic sections of the community, with a secondary goal of attracting support from Northern Ireland's Jewish community and its small but steadily growing Asian (Chinese, Indian, Pakistani) population, the vast majority of whom are neither Catholic nor Protestant. A political party is a political organization that subscribes to a certain ideology and seeks to attain political power within a government. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland, and was the party of government in Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. ... Sectarianism is an adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination, it also usually involves a rejection of those not a member of ones sect. ... The Northern Ireland Labour Party was a political party which operated from 1924 until the 1980s. ... The Ulster Liberal Party was the Northern Ireland branch of the UK Liberal Party. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

The Party's founding principles were expressly in favour of Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom, although in contrast to the Unionist parties, this was expressed in socio-economic rather than ethnic terms. It also placed great emphasis on the consent principle and therefore only supported the Northern Ireland's position within the UK as long as the people of NI wished it. In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... An ethnic group is a culture or subculture whose members are readily distinguishable by outsiders based on traits originating from a common racial, national, linguistic, or religious source. ...

The party was boosted in 1972 when three Members of the Parliament of Northern Ireland joined the party (one from the Nationalist Party, one from the Ulster Unionist Party and one Independent). Stratton Mills, an Ulster Unionist/Conservative member of the Westminster Parliament for North Belfast also joined, providing Alliance with its only House of Commons representation to date. Its first electoral challenge was the District Council elections of May, 1973 when they managed to win a respectable 13.6% of the votes cast. In the elections to Stormont which followed the next month the party polled 9.2% and won eight seats. The then party leader, Oliver Napier and his deputy Bob Cooper became part of the short-lived power sharing executive body. Alliance's vote peaked in the 1977 District Council elections when it obtained 14.4% of the vote and had 74 Councillors elected. In 1979, Party Leader Oliver Napier came closer than Alliance have come before or since to electing a Westminster MP, polling just 928 votes short of Peter Robinson's winning total in East Belfast, albeit placing third in a three-way marginal. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972, when it was suspended. ... The Nationalist Party existed under various froms from 1874 to 1973. ... The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland, and was the party of government in Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. ... The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... North Belfast is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Sir Oliver Napier was the first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. ... Robert B. Cooper is a U.S. electronics journalist specialising in CATV, and long distance terrestrial and satellite TVRO television reception. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... Sir Oliver Napier was the first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. ... Several notable people are called Peter Robinson: For the member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada who oversaw emigration schemes, see Peter Robinson (1785-1838) For the Northern Ireland politician Peter David Robinson, see Peter Robinson (politician) For the English-born Canadian-based detective novelist, see Peter Robinson (novelist... East Belfast is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. ...

Alliance was seriously damaged by the IRA Hunger Strike of 1981, which deeply polarised Northern Ireland politics, and indirectly led to the emergence of Sinn Féin as a serious political force. The Party supported the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement, and despite claims that this would fatally damage its soft Unionist support, Alliance rebounded to pick up 10.0% of the vote in the 1987 British General Election, with some voters rejecting the tacit mainstream Unionist support for violence in the aftermath of the Agreement. New leader, John Alderdice, polled 32.0% of the vote in East Belfast, the highest percentage ever achieved in an individual seat in a Westminster election, while Alliance came within 15,000 votes of both the DUP and Sinn Féin across Northern Ireland. In 1988, in Alliance's keynote post-Anglo Irish Agreement document, "Governing with Consent", Alderdice called for a devolved power-sharing government. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Alliance's vote stabilised at between 7% and 10%. The West Cork Flying Column during the War of Independence. ... A mural in Derrys Bogside, commemorating Irish hunger strikers. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Provisional Sinn Féin be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the year. ... The Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which aimed to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Thomas Alderdice, Baron Alderdice (28 March 1955— ) is a Northern Ireland politician. ... East Belfast is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. ... The Democratic Unionist Party is a hardline Unionist party in Northern Ireland led by Ian Paisley. ... It has been suggested that Provisional Sinn Féin be merged into this article or section. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1980s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1980 and 1989. ... The 1990s refers to the years 1990 to 1999; the last decade of the 20th Century, but in an economical sense The Nineties is often considered to span from the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 to the September 11 attacks in 2001. ...

After the IRA and Loyalist ceasefires in 1994, Alliance became the first non-Nationalist party to enter into talks with Sinn Féin, was an active participant in the talks which lead to the Good Friday Agreement, which it supported strongly. In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. ...

The Alliance Party polled fairly poorly for the 1996 elections for the Northern Ireland Forum, and the 1998 election for the Northern Ireland Assembly winning around 6.5% of the vote each time. This did enable the party to win six seats in the Assembly. 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The first elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on June 25, 1998. ... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly is a six flowered linen or flax plant, chosen for the plants historical economic importance to the region. ...

John Alderdice resigned as party leader in 1998 to take up the post of the Assembly's Presiding Officer. He was replaced by Séan Neeson, who himself resigned as party leader in September, 2001. Neeson was replaced by current party leader, David Ford, a member of the assembly for South Antrim. The Presiding Officer (Oifigear-Riaghlaidh in Scots Gaelic) is the person elected by the Members of the Scottish Parliament to chair their meetings. ... Séan Neeson (born February 9, 1946) is a politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland between 1998 and 2001. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... for the Canadian Kayaker see David Ford (kayaker) for the English musician see David Ford (musician) David Ford is a Northern Ireland politician. ... South Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. ...

The six Alliance MLAs elected in 2003. Rear row left to right: Kieran McCarthy, Séan Neeson, Seamus Close. Front row: Eileen Bell, David Ford, Naomi Long.

It was predicted that Alliance would suffer electorally as a new centrist challenger established itself in Northern Irish politics, the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, whilst the main Unionist and Nationalist parties both moderated their position on cross-community co-operation. Another problem for the APNI was that the rules of the Northern Ireland Assembly require major votes (such as the election of a First Minister) to have the support of both a majority of Unionist assembly members and a majority of Nationalist assembly members, thus diminishing the importance of parties such as Alliance which are not aligned to either of these two blocs. The six Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Members of the Legislative Assembly elected in 2003. ... Kieran McCarthy (born September 9, 1942) is a Northern Ireland politician, member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Strangford and assembly chief whip for the Alliance Party. ... Séan Neeson (born February 9, 1946) is a politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland between 1998 and 2001. ... Seamus Close OBE (born August 12, 1947) is a Northern Ireland politician, member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Lagan Valley and a former deputy leader of the Alliance Party. ... Eileen Bell (born August 15, 1943) is a Northern Ireland politician, member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Down and deputy leader of the Alliance Party. ... for the Canadian Kayaker see David Ford (kayaker) for the English musician see David Ford (musician) David Ford is a Northern Ireland politician. ... Naomi Long MLA Naomi Rachel Long (born December 12, 1971) is a Northern Ireland politician and Alliance Party Member of the Legislative Assembly for East Belfast. ... The Northern Ireland Womens Coalition is a non-sectarian political party in Northern Ireland. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. ... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly is a six flowered linen or flax plant, chosen for the plants historical economic importance to the region. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. ...

Nevertheless, in the Northern Ireland Assembly Elections, 2003, Alliance held all their seats, while the Women's Coalition lost both of theirs. However Alliance's vote fell to just 3.7%. In the European Elections of 2004, Alliance gave strong support to Independent candidate John Gilliland who polled 6.6% of the vote, the highest for an non-communal candidate in a European election since 1979. Since the beginning of the Northern Ireland peace process, the centre ground has been relentlessly squeezed in Northern Ireland politics. The support for Gilliland's candidature, which was also supported by parties such as the Workers' Party and Northern Ireland Conservatives, reflected a desire to reunite the fragmented and weakened non-communal bloc in Northern Ireland politics. The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on 26 November 2003. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... When discussing northern Irish history, the Peace Process is generally considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 IRA ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of The Troubles, the Belfast (or Good Friday) Agreement, and subsequent political developments. ... Categories: Ireland-related stubs | Irish political parties | Republic of Ireland political parties | Northern Ireland political parties ...

Over the past 30 years, and particularly since the mid-1990s Alliance's political philiosophy has veered away from non-sectarian Unionism towards a more liberal, anti-ethnic position. While the Good Friday Agreement has attempted to implement consociational power sharing, Alliance has continued to argue for a more traditional, voluntary form of collective responsibility within a Northern Ireland Executive government, which is not provided for at present. The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ... Political scientists define a consociational state as a state which has major internal divisions along ethnic, religious, or linguistic lines, yet nonetheless manages to remain stable, due to consultation among the elites of each of its major social groups. ...

In the 5 May 2005 British General Election, they contested 12 seats and polled 3.9% of the vote. In the simultaneous elections to Northern Ireland's local authorities, they polled 5.0% of first preference votes and had 30 Councillors elected. May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Alliance are linked with the British Liberal Democrats and are members of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. ... The Liberal International is an international organization for liberal parties. ... The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (founded in 1993) is a liberal party, active in the European Union, uniting liberal and centrist parties around Europe which together represent more than 20 million European voters and is an international non-profit association incorporated under the laws of Belgium. ...

Policy

Constitutional affairs

Northern Ireland

North/South

East/West

Justice / Security

Social affairs

Agriculture

Culture

Education

Environment

Health

Social Change

Economic affairs

Development

Public finance

Foreign Affairs

Europe

Wider World

Leaders of Alliance

• Oliver Napier 1972-1984
• John Cushnahan 1984-1987
• John Alderdice 1987-1998
• Séan Neeson 1998-2001
• David Ford 2001-present

Sir Oliver Napier was the first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Thomas Alderdice, Baron Alderdice (28 March 1955— ) is a Northern Ireland politician. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Séan Neeson (born February 9, 1946) is a politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland between 1998 and 2001. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... for the Canadian Kayaker see David Ford (kayaker) for the English musician see David Ford (musician) David Ford is a Northern Ireland politician. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

See also

• Liberalism
• Contributions to liberal theory
• Liberalism worldwide
• List of liberal parties
• Liberal democracy
• Liberalism in the United Kingdom
• Secularism

External link

• Alliance Party official site