A former councillor who quit Alliance because of its apparent failure to embrace the possibility of constitutional change has accused his former colleagues of protecting “their unionist leaning voter base”.
David Rossiter resigned from Naomi Long’s party and quit his seat on North Down and Ards Council “after much reflection on Northern Ireland’s future”.
The Co Louth-born 36-year-old said a new job in public affairs meant it was “logistically challenging” to remain living in the borough he’d served as an elected representative but he plans to continue living north of the border.
However, in outlining his reasons for quitting Alliance, he is scathing of the party’s so-called agnostic stance on the constitutional question.
“I can no longer support a party that has not embraced the possibility of a new Ireland,” Mr Rossister said.
“The evidence increasingly shows that Northern Ireland’s future would be brighter within a reimagined, prosperous Ireland that unlocks new economic and social opportunities in the wake of Brexit.”
He said conversations about the potential for constitutional change were taking place across Ireland.
“Yet, the Alliance Party remains conspicuously absent from this dialogue,” he said.
In June, Alliance Leader Naomi Long has pulled out of an Ireland’s Future event, citing “pressing commitments” ahead of the general election.
Party colleague Nuala McAllister took her place.
A recent survey of Alliance members found some 38% would support Irish unity in a border poll, with 27% opting to remain in the UK, and 4% abstaining.
The former councillor said the party leadership missed the opportunity offered by the University of Liverpool polling to engage further in the debate around constitutional change with party members and the public.
“I assume they took a strategic decision not to engage further in order to protect their unionist leaning voter base,” he told The Irish News.
“It’s a shame that the polling didn’t even lead to a more systematic engagement with members on their views and aspirations. Seemingly Alliance is happy to receive nationalists’ votes in swing constituencies but won’t reciprocate by acknowledging the aspirations of those voters in terms of constitutional change.”
Mr Rossiter said a new Ireland enabled “Northern Ireland to integrate into a vibrant, small, open European economy that bridges the US and the EU”.
“A new Ireland offers a chance for healing and progress – unionism is as much a part of the Irish identity as nationalism,” he said.
“It is time for a greater realisation that, culturally, there is more that unites communities from across the island than what divides us.”
The Alliance Party did not comment.
