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Writing Peace: David Trimble Collection

Party representation on Belfast city council committees, outside authorities, and partnership boards: a test case for democracy

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Councillor Tom Hartley, leader of the Sinn Féin Group on Belfast City Council, authored a report highlighting the systematic exclusion of Sinn Féin from chairpersonships and vice-chairpersonships on Belfast City Council Committees and outside authorities following the May 1997 local government election. Despite Sinn Féin being the largest party with 27.6% of the vote and holding an equal number of seats as the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), they were completely excluded from these positions due to a pact between the Alliance and other unionist parties. The report details the over-representation of unionist parties, particularly the UUP and Alliance, and the marginalization of nationalist parties, with Sinn Féin receiving no chairpersonships and only 6% of vice-chairpersonships. Hartley argues that only a proportional representation system, as seen in the newly created partnership boards, can ensure fair and equal representation in the democratic process. [UU 13 and DU 7 are annotated in pen on the first page]

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