SDLP youth chair Cllr Matthew McDermott has criticised the Prime Minister Gordon Brown for his proposal to sell off the Student Loan Book in the proposed list of assets to be sold off and warned that the review into student fees must not reflect the wishes of Vice Chancellors but rather represent the needs of students, particularly our most vulnerable.

Matthew said, ‘ Gordon Brown has proposed selling off government assets to offset the budget deficit. While this is an approach we would generally welcome to avoid severe cuts, we can’t support the selling off of the student loan book. Selling this off will undoubtedly lead to higher interest rates for students in the future. It is a shortsighted move that is ill thought out and does not represent the wishes of the vast majority of students.

‘ Add this to the fact that University UK (UUK) the body representing UK Vice Chancellors has called for a rise in fees to about £5 000 per year and the CBI has called for ‘restricted’ maintenance grants and this equals a bad deal for students. 

‘ The government will be reviewing all this in November and we will be asking our SDLP MP’s to make representations to the government opposing these moves and join the Labour Backbenchers organising against any increase in fees.

Continuing Matthew said, ‘ SDLP Youth will also be stepping up a student awareness campaign across our universities calling on the Student Loan Book to remain in public ownership, no fee hike and no tampering of the maintenance grants.

‘ If the government goes ahead with any of these moves we are heading for a situation whereby University will only be for societies most wealthy and exclude young people from poorer backgrounds. A situation that is unsustainable.

This year again, SDLP Youth had a very successful Freshers Fayre at Queen’s University recruiting new members and promoting the party’s unique brand of social democracy and progressive values.

Commenting after the event SDLP Youth Chair Matthew McDermott said, ‘ SDLP Youth at Queen’s had another very successful year. This year it was clearly evident that there is growing dissatisfaction at the inability of both the DUP and SF to deliver anything tangible for young people while in government.

‘Our message today was simple; “enough is enough”, it’s time to take our future into our own hands. The time for the DUP and SF to stop patting themselves on the back, for literally sitting round a table, is well and truly over. The recession is deepening while the cost of living is soaring. Young people of our generation, more than any other, accept that things have got to change - and the chances of this happening while the DUP and SF are in power, are slipping further and further away.

Universities and Colleges representative Connor Daly said, ‘This was a great opportunity for SDLP to engage with young people and we succeeded in recruiting many young interested new members.

‘ SDLP Youth will be carrying out a progressive program of work this year, tackling issues that are important and relevant.

END

SDLP Youth Press Officer Michelle Byrne expressed concern at the SDLP Youth Annual Conference regarding the devolution of policing and justice powers.

“Devolution is a key part of any legislative assembly. The NI Assembly has devolved all departments but one, the policing and justice department. According to the Northern Ireland Act, section 2 and schedules 2 to 6, “The Assembly is under a duty to review the arrangements for judicial appointments by 1 May 2012.” This means that the Assembly must decide on a Minister for this very crucial department. It is important that the NI Assembly and Executive show leadership and make a decision on this crucial department.”

Under the Good Friday Agreement power is distributed in accordance to each party’s mandate. The number of seats which a party holds in the executive is of course reflected by their mandate. The more votes that are given to a certain party then the more they have in the NI Executive.

Therefore, with the addition of an extra seat in the Executive you would think that the same rule would apply, that the party who deserves the seat would be the party which has mandate to it. But unfortunately not in this political situation.

According to D’Hondt, the system stipulated by the Good Friday Agreement, the SDLP would be the party entitled to the 11^th seat around the executive table. But yet surprisingly, Sinn Fein and DUP are proposing to ‘award’ the seat to the Alliance Party. 

Michelle said, “This was discussed at the conference this morning and it is obvious that the majority agree something needs to be done about when these powers will be devolved.”

SDLP Youth International Secretary Barry Magee has attended a conference in Sweden to discuss conflict resolution with delegates from Iraq and Palestine.

The conference which was hosted by the Swedish Young Social Democrats (SSU) saw Mr Magee hold talks with the Kurdistan Youth Freedom Organisation from Iraq and the Palestinian-based Fatah Youth movement:

The Lecale SDLP Secretary said: “It was a tremendous personal honour to meet with social democratic colleagues from Iraq and Palestine and to have the opportunity to discuss with them areas of mutual learning and cooperation in conflict resolution and peace-building.

“While each of our respective situations may be different there are many similarities that can be drawn from our individual experiences. I firmly believe that other conflict regions can learn from our experiences.

“The peace-process here has had its difficulties but we have learned that the only through partnership and working together can we ever resolve our issues.

“I reiterated to them that peace processes are never perfect- there are many challenging times and “peace” is not a destination that is easily arrived at.

“Achieving peace involves constant hard work and effort not only in terms of developing political relationships but also in building consensus on the ground and in communities.

“Peace does not just happen overnight – it is a perpetual process – and can only be achieved through compromise and adhering to the fundamental principles of dialogue, respect for diversity, commitment to democracy and non-violence.

“The SDLP want to help build a better world- a world that is free from conflict and the root causes of conflict- such as issues of poverty, social exclusion and segregation.”

Barry has discussed in more detail his experiences during the SSU Congress and Swedish politics over on his blog http://talesfromlecale.blogspot.com/

SDLP Youth will be taking part in the ‘Pride March’ on Saturday 1st August in Belfast City Centre.

SDLP Youth Chair Peter Armstrong is keen for as many SDLP members and elected representatives to attend the march. This will be our 5th year participating in the parade.

Belfast Pride March is a colourful carnival parade through Belfast city centre, starting at Custom House Square at 2pm sharp and returning to the Square for a free party afterwards.

Pride Week is about raising awareness of issues relating to gay and lesbian people and increasing their visibility within society. Please visit the Belfast Pride website for more details.

The SDLP Lagan Valley is calling on all flags to be taken down within Lisburn Town Centre. The SDLP feel that if the City Council wish to promote “Lisburn - A City for Everyone” then they must earn it and promote a shared public space within Lisburn Town Centre. Every year around this time, in Lisburn Town Centre an Orange Order Arch is erected and the whole town saturated in flags and bunting.

The SDLP  respect the importance of expressing culture and heritage, but these groups cannot be allowed to take over public spaces, in most cases paid for by all the ratepayers, for their own political and sectarian purposes.

SDLP Lagan Valley Sectary and SDLP Youth Member Aisling Twomey said  

“If you ask the majority of people living in, or visiting Lisburn, regardless of their background, they will tell you about the problems around Flags. Residents have contacted me across the boroughs who are concerned by the flying of flags.   The SDLP Lagan Valley feels that no resident should be made to feel uncomfortable in a town or an area that they live in.  We have seen a move by loyalists to mark out new developments in the town; this is totally unacceptable as there are many new residents who don’t claim identity to either community. ”  

However most statutory agencies seem to be impotent to act on this issue. There should be no confusion whatsoever between the general use of flags. All flags that are used in a sectarian way should be removed.  Residents and Rate payers who are opposed to these flags outside their property or on their streets feel intimated to the point where many don’t complain for fear of attack or reprisals.

Ms Twomey continued “ I have been contacted by a gentleman who moved into an area, because he felt that it was a non-sectarian area. This year to his disappointment residents from outside his estate have come in to put up flags outside his property. He feels completely powerless as he was unable to get any action from PSNI.   Where are his rights to have this flag removed from outside of his property?”

Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie praised Lisburn in February 2009 and has emphasised importance of a Shared Future for Lisburn . Speaking at the launch of the City Council Masterplan Minister Ritchie said   “Now is the right time to focus on regenerating Lisburn’s City Centre. Lisburn like many other urban centres must review and reinvent itself in the face of changing economic, social and lifestyle trends.”  

The SDLP Lagan Valley echoes the view of the Minister for Social Development and thanks her for her ongoing work and support for the people of Lisburn.   The SDLP Lagan Valley will continue to campaign for removal of all flags within shared space in Lisburn City and will work towards a shared future for all Lisburn City residents . 

Please click on image above to see (better quality) poster.

You are invited to a public meeting to discuss the current chaos in our education system.

Balmoral Hotel, Dunmurry
Tuesday 30 June
6.30pm

Panellists:

• Alex Attwood SDLP
• Paul Butler SF
• Olwin Frost Principal Oakwood IPS
• Sinead Beare Principal Christ The Redeemer PS
• Tony Gallagher QUB

*Please note that due to clashes with other events, the date for SDLP Youth Conference has changed from 27th June to 5th September 2009. We hope the new date suits better for our members, supporters, speakers and exhibitors. Please find an updated invitation with new deadlines for motions/nominations.*

Dear Member

I am delighted to announce the SDLP Youth Annual Conference will take place on Saturday 5th September from 10am to 6pm at the Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast. All party members are invited to the Conference, and we would ask you to confirm your attendance early.

The conference is an opportunity for SDLP Youth to debate motions, to formulate policy papers and decide our priorities and policies for the coming year.

At the conference, the SDLP Youth Executive for 2009/10 will be elected and we are now inviting members of the party aged 30 and under to nominate themselves to run for the positions. The eight posts available are: Chair, Vice-Chair, Public Relations Officer, Campaigns Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, Universities & Colleges Officer, and International Officer.

The election will take place between 10am and 1pm at the conference, with counting taking place in the afternoon and the results announced thereafter. The election will be operated using the PR-STV system. To be entitled to vote, you must be a paid-up 2009 party member, aged 30 and under, on 1st September 2009.

The deadline for submitting motions for conference or nomination to run for election to the Executive is extended until 5pm on 21st August 2009, but we would still urge you to submit these as soon as possible.

If you wish to attend conference, run for election, or submit motions please contact Janine Irvine on 028 9024 7700 or email janine.irvine AT sdlphq.ie

Regards,

Peter Armstrong
Chair

Katherine McCloskey
Vice-Chair

—————————————————————————————————–

Important Dates
Deadline for submitting motions 21st August 2009 5pm
Deadline for election nominations 21st August 2009 5pm
Deadline for paying membership to HQ 1st September 2009
Date of conference 5th September 2009

SDLP Youth Campaigns Officer Kyle Boyd has condemned the recent attacks on the Romanian families in South Belfast.

Kyle said: “I live on the street where these attacks have happened. They are disgraceful and a shock to the whole South Belfast area.

“I see these families everyday and they are the friendliest and warmest people you could meet, and to think that they have been attacked due totheir nationality is beyond me.

“This attack has brought the wider community together and shows that no-one in today’s society will let this stand and are fully behind the parents and their young families.

“SDLP Youth were at the anti-racist protest on Monday evening to show our support for the Romanian community. I also want to condemn the youths who threw bottles and hurled abuse during the protest, and I would appeal to anyone who has any information about this to contact the PSNI immediately and bring justice to whoever did this.”

Dear Friend

This is a reminder that the SDLP Youth Annual Conference will take place on Saturday 27th June 2009 at the Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast.

All party members and supporters should have received invites to the Conference, and we are asking that you to confirm your attendance, submit motions, and put forward nominations for Youth Executive as soon as possible by contacting Janine Irvine on 028 9024 7700 or email janine.irvine AT sdlphq.ie.

Since we have been busy electioneering, we have extended the deadline for Submitting motions and Election Nominations to Monday 15th June 2009 5pm.

Election Nominations - The Youth Executive posts available are: Chair, Vice-Chair, Public Relations Officer, Campaigns Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, Universities & Colleges Officer, and International Officer. I would encourage all members to consider running for a position, or suggesting members that you think should run.

Submitting Motions - The motions passed at Youth Conference help us to formulate policy papers and decide our priorities and policies for the coming year. Motions passed at Youth Conference are put forward to Party Conference and in many cases become SDLP party policy.

Regards,

Peter Armstrong

Chair
SDLP Youth