Sinn Féin have released their party manifesto for the General Election.
Politics affects all of us, but sometimes manifestos can be hard to understand. That's why we will be breaking down what the major parties' manifestos say about the issues that matter to students. We've had a look at the policies most relevant to students, apprentices and young people.
Here's what they've promised
- Greater devolution and fiscal powers in NI, including powers for progressive taxation and raising the minimum wage.
- Delivery of an Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) strategy.
- A commitment to strong legal protections for workers and the right to join a trade union.
- Call for multi-annual budgeting to enable longer-term planning and investments and an end to the chronic underfunding of our public services.
- Building an all-island National Health Service (NHS) and tackling hospital waiting lists.
Here's what they're missing
- Manifesto is focused on constitutional change and tackling underinvestment in NI, but contains little detail on what the party will do to lift students and apprentices out of immediate poverty.
- No mention of extending Universal Credit eligibility to all students and apprentices.
- No specific mention of Living Wage for Apprentices — however they have mentioned raising the minimum wage.
- Haven’t mentioning tackling soaring rents by introducing rent controls and abolishing rental guarantors.
- No mention of removing the working cap for international students.
Other policies that they've promised
- A commitment to the expansion of Magee campus.
- Parity of esteem for Irish language.
- Just transition to net zero and tackling the ecological crisis facing Lough Neagh.
- Building A5 and A6 roads.
- Establish Citizen’s Assembly to encourage dialogue on constitutional change.
- Women to be able to access to safe and legal health services.
- Accessible and affordable childcare.
- Regional investment and greater job opportunities.
- The redevelopment of Casement Park.
- Create a safe, welcoming and inclusive society for all.
- Call for an end to the chronic underfunding of our public services.
This week we're summarising the manifestos of all the parties in Northern Ireland as their manifestos are released — join the conversation on social media and make sure you're following NUS-USI to stay in the loop with all the summaries!
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