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Brendan Hughes

TUV election: Key points from party's Northern Ireland Assembly election manifesto

Opposing Brexit's Protocol, funding the health service and reforming Stormont are among the key pledges in TUV's Assembly election manifesto.

Jim Allister's party also proposes setting up a Nursing Reserve Service and a new trade body to boost business links within the UK's internal market.

The 42-page manifesto for the election in May has been published on the TUV website ahead of a formal launch scheduled for Friday.

Read more: Full coverage of the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election

Here is a look at some of the key messages and policies from the party's manifesto:

Northern Ireland Protocol

TUV has made opposing Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol its number-one priority of the election campaign.

The party said they have been the "authentic voice of opposition" to the Irish Sea border arrangements, which have led to trade barriers on goods shipped to Northern Ireland from Britain.

"This is not compatible with being part of the United Kingdom. This Protocol is irredeemable. It must go," the party said.

They added: "Going forward, rely on those who called it right from the beginning."

Stormont reform

TUV said the Stormont Executive's system of mandatory power-sharing between unionists and nationalists has "produced nothing but deadlock and failure".

The party proposes two possible alternatives: A voluntary coalition system with weighted majority voting; or Northern Ireland being governed by ministers in London while retaining the Stormont Assembly for law-making.

In practice the second option would mean British ministers would introduce government legislation through Stormont for MLAs to debate and vote upon, while MLAs could also introduce their own private members' bills.

TUV said the "EU has little to recommend it" but cites its system of co-decision between the European Parliament and Council of Ministers as having similarities.

But the party said their "default position" is British rule from Westminster "if others refuse to embrace the change which is necessary to make Stormont work".

Health and education

TUV said health would be the party's top spending pledge, hitting out at "Stormont’s failure to prioritise health".

"While others would squander millions on the Irish language, north/south structures and so-called 'rights agendas', we say put the money into more nurses, doctors and beds in our hospitals," it said.

TUV proposed that a "Nursing Reserve Service" should be created, similar to the Army Reserve. Retired and former nurses would be enlisted, required to keep up with relevant training, remunerated as reserves and available to be called upon in an emergency.

The party said they are "unashamedly" opposed to abortion.

In education, TUV said tackling underachievement was its priority, particularly for the Protestant working class.

The party said it would "continue to expose and oppose" what it claims is a "disparity" in the treatment of controlled sector schools in comparison to integrated and Irish-medium sectors.

Economy

TUV argued that Northern Ireland's economic prosperity can only be assured by the removal of the Protocol and the "restoration" of Northern Ireland's place in the UK's internal market.

It proposed the creation of a new body called InterTrade UK, similar to the cross-border body InterTrade Ireland, in a bid to boost internal UK trade.

The party also supports setting up a rail link to Belfast International Airport and "vigorous efforts to attract new airlinks".

Other points

TUV described itself as "your insurance policy against a Sinn Féin First Minister", saying it would never nominate a Deputy First Minister if Sinn Féin became the largest party.

The party is opposed to any further powers being devolved from Westminster to an "unworkable" Stormont, "particularly regarding taxation".

TUV also pledged to "resist the imposition of Irish language legislation".

On cost of living pressures, TUV said it would "not pretend that the Stormont Assembly can do much" in the face of global trends.

But the party said they would "press for all available help" and added it was "time to cut out Stormont squander".

It also said the policy of flying the Union flag from government buildings in Britain all year round should be extended to Northern Ireland.

Read more: Jim Allister distances himself from TUV man who labelled Doug Beattie a 'Lundy'

Read more: DUP's Sir Jeffrey Donaldson must be clear on Lagan Valley intentions says TUV's Jim Allister

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