Executive Does Not Have The Will To 'Do Politics Differently' – Greens

The Green Party NI has accused the other Executive parties of not having the political will to "do politics differently".

Councillor, Áine Groogan, made the comment after Sinn Féin, DUP, the Alliance Party, UUP and the TUV voted against a Green Party proposal that Belfast City Council does not send a delegation to MIPIM, the annual real estate fair in the South of France.

Speaking after the vite, Cllr Groogan said "It is somewhat perverse to look to the same actors that have landbanked huge swathes of our city, who have rode roughshod through inner city communities, destroyed our unique built heritage and ignored our climate & biodiversity crisis to come in and 'save us'. We are told it's the only show in town, we have to be there. Quite simply, we don't. Our executive parties simply don't have the political will to do politics differently. What tangible benefit has MIPIM brought to the people in this city?" Cllr Groogan continued "The Green Party has been consistent on this issue and we are not going to stand over the wasting of public resources on a conference that highlights neoliberalism at its very worst. We are in a housing crisis, we are in desperate need to radically overhaul housing provision and development in this city, but we're in that position because of continued government failure. These parties naively look to the private sector, and more specifically to international investors to ride in on a white horse to correct their incompetence in government. Housing is a right, not a commodity to be bought and sold, and our city is not a playground for international investors.

"The decision to attend has been deferred for more information. I'm not sure what more information is needed on a conference that clearly doesn't align with our values around inclusive growth, social value and human rights, but I hope this gives other parties time to reflect and choose to spend the money more wisely for something that the people of Belfast might actually see a benefit from."