The Conservatives launched their General Election manifesto for Northern Ireland today. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, was guest of honour as the document was unveiled at the party’s new headquarters, on Great Victoria Street, Belfast, this morning.
Ms. Villiers said that the “manifesto sets out what the next Conservative Government will do to build a brighter more secure future for Northern Ireland and a stable, prosperous and peaceful Northern Ireland.”
“This General election is the most important in a generation”, she stated. “Here in Northern Ireland, people can be proud of the contribution you’ve made to get the UK back on its feet. We recognise times have been difficult for many people. That’s why we’ve tried to help working people with the cost of living, wherever possible. In Northern Ireland we’ve cut income tax for 676,000 people and taken around 81,000 people out of income tax altogether. We’re helping savers and first time buyers. The state pension has gone up by over £900. And here in Northern Ireland we delivered on our pledge to help those savers and investors cruelly abandoned by Labour following the collapse of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.”
Ms Villiers pointed out that the government’s swift action on the economy is bearing fruits in Northern Ireland. She also described the benefits of the Stormont House Agreement saying it has “the potential to move politics in Northern Ireland forward.”
“Every vote for the Conservatives at this election is a vote to keep the whole of the UK on the right track. It is a vote to put Northern Ireland at the heart of UK politics, with David Cameron as Prime Minister, fully committed to Northern Ireland and to keep our country together as one United Kingdom. It is vote for a brighter, more secure future for Northern Ireland.”
The Conservatives are standing 16 candidates across Northern Ireland.
Read the manifesto - below.