N Ireland mumsnetters. How on earth do we change the situation?

[isabellerossignol]

With the election coming up, this has been really playing on my mind. We need a functioning health service. How do we get one? I don't vote DUP or Sinn Fein, but nearly everyone else in my constituency seems to and I feel so powerless.

I feel pretty horrified by the education situation too, but the health service is on a whole other level, it is properly scary.

I don't want to be in politics myself, I am not robust enough for that, but I want someone to step up and say 'enough is enough' and yet I don't even seem to have anyone to vote for who is willing to do that. I have been reading all the election literature through my door and there is very little mention of the health service by any of the parties, how can they be ignoring such a huge issue?

I do love a bit of Jim Allister. He's fascinating.

I’m in a safe DUP seat but will be voting Alliance. Would be great if we could make a dent in the majority. I’ve family in North Belfast which will be a close one. They’ve got a terrorist or a gangster! Same old same old.

I have actually been at a public meeting where Jim Allister spoke on behalf of the local community, all of them, it was about cuts to local services that affected everyone. And he was absolutely amazing. He had researched everything and had all his facts and figures at hand and spoke clearly and concisely, and was very polite.

It's a pity his policies are so extreme because if he had anything sensible to say, he would be an amazing representative for his constituents.

You mustn't be a million miles from me, Isabelle, I have family in his area and they do say that on a grassroots level he gets the job done.

But oh God, those videos, those leaflets. We had one through the door once, and under "reasons why you should vote Jim" it was basically "number 3: I've been married to my wife for ninety million years"

I've heard similar tales sliceofbeautypie

Can someone tell me the gossip? I hear nothing nowadays.

I've heard a few things about IPJ recently. Not the usual dodgy property deal rumours for once.

The rumour I've heard is that one married DUP MP and another married DUP MP, have been on friendly terms, iykwim.

@isabellerossignol I was at one too a few years ago when a hospital was a risk of closure. He was amazing to listen to. He definitely knew his stuff.

It was a public meeting and reps from all parties were there - JA stood out the best to me.

I have also spoken to him when an audience wasn't present and found him to be the same.

But I just could never have brought myself to vote for him.

A DUP candidate's wife leafleted my house prior to the last local council election.

Her first words me me were "you are in XXXX's area away out here aren't you? Because if you aren't I've had a wasted journey!"

She thrust a leaflet at me and left....

I am surprised to see Gavin Robinson's name on the list that voted against fair payment for nurses - his wife is a health and wellness motivational speaker in regards to pre and postnatal care and seems to be a nice woman and incredibly passionate about what she does. She had terrible postnatal depression and set up her own blog/page. It's 'have you seen that girl?' if you fancy a look.

Disclaimer {absolutely no affiliation but I find it interesting}

@Newschapter that is interesting, will look that up

Paisley senior used to pick up all the old folk round my way to go vote when I was young. They loved it - got all dressed & had sweets for sharing in their handbags!

I do find it disconcerting how there are loads of seemingly dead on people that I know that probably vote DUP/SF.

I am surprised to see Gavin Robinson's name on the list that voted against fair payment for nurses

Why? Why would he do that?

@Dione - who knows why any of these politician do what they do...

Apparently IPJ's daughter is a nurse.... Or that's what he told a Ballymena woman when she cornered him... before this list was made public.

Was that part of their Supply and Confidence deal with the Tories?

I suppose IPJ's daughter doesn't need to earn a decent salary since daddy can provide plenty of free holidays...

You really have to think tactically and look at the policies not the parties. The DUP & Sinn Fein are terrible! If I hear about the bloody Irish Langauge act one more time ... such a waste of time and resources.
I would have normally voted alliance but tactically it won’t make any difference and to be honest I’ve the past few years they just haven’t been doing enough.
I’m voting UUP, their policies are very good , no brexit, anti Boris and healthcare reform. They did great things for education back in the day, think Integrated etc and they are progressive . They’re the only ones in my Area where they will beat the DUP.
We need a candidate in Westminster who will lobby for NIreland, for our economy , for our future, otherwise we’re going to be forgot about.

*sorry I meant anti-no deal brexit.

Add an injunction isabellerossignol?

I'm willing to give Andy Allen consideration in the local elections but I'm not altogether convinced the UUP won't sit, stay and roll over on the DUP's command.

Now there is no Sylvia Hermon, I'll go Alliance. We'll get DUP but nothing will ever make me vote for them.

I think part of the problem I have with the UUP is that I'm never sure where they'll go next. They seem to be all over the place. Most parties, you know roughly where they'll stand on a particular issue, but with the UUP I don't have a clue.

If I was a unionist I'd be very frustrated with them, because there's an obvious space for a more moderate unionist party, and the UUP aren't filling it.

I'm happier voting for Not Sure What They'll Do parties than Sinn Fein-DUP, because I know exactly what they do so anything would be an improvement.

Jim Allister fulfilled a vitally important role in the Assembly by questioning, interrogating and investigating policies. He and Stephen Nolan were our only effective opposition, essentially.

That's why the DUP and SF carved everything up between them, shut the moderate parties out, and allowed corruption to flourish.

Read Sam McBride's book. Our entire system is corrupt to the core.

The two main parties need to be punished.

Tulips I've been contemplating reading that book. Is it worth a read then? It's going to make me angry isn't it?

It is very depressing. It reveals corruption in both parties and also in the civil service. Everyone lining their own pockets.

145 spin doctors employed by Stormont. Yet our struggling media is gagged much more than the rest of the UK.

145 spin doctors employed by Stormont.
That's because spin doctors are important, not like those medical doctors so needed to reduce our scandalous waiting lists.