“The SDLP, an Irish Nationalist Party, desperately wants a better Northern Ireland. We want to see a North which is attractive to business… a North that takes care of its sick and gives dignity and respect to its older citizens… a North which is safe and a great place to work and to raise a family. [caption id="attachment_22980" align="alignleft" width="384" caption="SDLP Leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie arriving at the launch of the party's 2011 manifesto at the Ramada Encore, Belfast, on Wednesday 20th April, with SDLP deputy leader Patsy McGlone and Lisburn City Council candidate, Christine Wilson. (Photography by Bill Smyth)."][/caption] “Essentially there are two things we need to do -We need to UNITE PEOPLE and BUILD PROSPERITY. “If we work on uniting people we can build a shared society that is peaceful, healthy and at ease with itself in one community which embraces different traditions. We must never lose sight of that prize. “If we work to build prosperity we can develop a modern dynamic economy that provides employment and opportunity for all. We will have to invest heavily in the education and training of young people and we will have to follow a bold economic strategy in the short medium and long term. But again the prize is great, and reachable. “The central issue in this election is: who has the ideas, and who is in the best position, to unite people and build prosperity? Who therefore should be at the centre of our devolved Government? I have no doubt it is the SDLP on both counts,” she added.]]>