Adams appeals to Unionist Voters
2 May, 2015 - by
Gerry Adams TD
8
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has appealed to unionist voters, especially working class and low and middle-income unionists, to “seriously consider voting for Sinn Féin in the election this week.”
Speaking in Dungannon today Gerry Adams said:
“The DUP, UUP and TUV are all conservative parties. They find it very difficult to oppose austerity. The English Tories plan £12 billion more cuts. The Labour Party has also committed to more cuts. The affect of this on families and on our local economy and public services will be enormous.
“According to media reports child benefit and child tax credits will be significantly cut under the Conservatives.
“The Tory plans will mean limiting child benefit to two children; cutting £3,500 annually from a family with three children.
“The Tories plan to remove the higher rate of child benefit for the first child; means test child benefit, cutting £1,750 from the budget of a two-child family; and remove child benefit from 16 to 19 year-olds – a cut of over £1,000 for parents of a single child.
“The impact of these and other cuts to the welfare system will have a hugely damaging impact on the vast majority of citizens in the north but especially on working class and low and middle-income families whether they are nationalist or unionist.
“Voting unionist makes no sense for those who cannot afford these cuts.
“On Thursday I would appeal to unionist voters to reflect on the fact that the unionist parties do not represent their economic interests.
“I would ask unionist voters to consider voting Sinn Féin and join with us in opposing the planned cuts to public services, including health and education; all of which will hurt the unemployed, the sick, people with disabilties and the elderly; and those on low and middle incomes.
“Sinn Fein is committed to a People’s Pact, to defending jobs and public services and investing in our economy. To achieve this we need to secure the largest vote possible in this election.
“I am asking the people to give us that mandate.”
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The message there from Sinn Fein is - we won't be taking up our seats but the more seats we win the harder it is for Cameron to form a government. It will never happen in a million years but could you imagine the uproar if the Sinn Fein MPs took up their seats to vote down a Conservative/UKIP/DUP Queens Speech. Even a threat to potentially do this would force Cameron to drop a DUP alliance for fear of reopening old wounds in N.Ireland.