Mr Chairman, Party Leader, Conference,

It is a pleasure and an honour to move this motion today, and may I say - what a difference a year makes….

Last year I made a speech from this platform in my then role as Minister for Regional Development, which I had the honour to hold on behalf of this Party for over four years – I said then that we should never say never about entering into Opposition – and here we are….

I also said at our recent special Party Executive meeting – that when the then Finance Minister tabled a paper at the Executive meeting outlining the Voluntary Exit Scheme, I had no idea I would be the first person out through the door……….   

But let me say this – both the toxins within local politics, and the return to PIRA murder on the streets of our capital city, left us with no choice but to exit the Executive.

And it was no easy decision. We are and remain a Party committed to devolution and power sharing, but it must always be based on solid democratic foundations, and not subject to the whims of paramilitaries and the orders of an Army Council.

We have a track record of taking decisions that are tough. Decisions which at the time of making, bring us in for severe criticism from our political opponents, but decisions which ultimately always prove to be the right ones for ALL of the people of Northern Ireland.

We did it in 1998 and I believe we have done it again in 2015.

We have had pathetic jibes from our opponents about our motivations.

Let me be clear. This was about taking decisive action.  We will not turn a blind eye to the darkness that still lurks in society, regardless of what others may want us to do in the interests of political expediency.

Let me also say – if this Party had presented the outcome of the Independent Assessment into Paramilitary Groups 10 years ago we would have been torn to bits by the DUP.

Mr Chairman, Who now are the rollover Unionists?!

It is devastating that 17 years on from the Belfast Agreement we are still lurching from crisis to crisis.

During the shaky first steps of power sharing there were many hurdles for our Party and the SDLP to get over.  And yes, the Assembly faced suspension on numerous occasions. But it is important to remember that those crises were never down to the relationships between the Parties that then occupied OFMdFM.

In 1998 power sharing was viewed as an opportunity to build a society on foundations of mutual trust and respect.

How the DUP and Sinn Fein have twisted and distorted this vision, - now we have the Government of mutual veto.

Rather than sharing power, the focus is instead on attempts to overpower each other and undermine the rest of us.

And it is little wonder when you look at who the two big blocks within the Executive are. And I have seen, first hand, the impact the DUP/SF carve up has on decision making and delivery.

Conference….politically, socially and economically this cannot be as good as it gets.

And that is why I am presenting this motion today – calling for an alternative Programme for Government – an alternative vision for the future of Northern Ireland.

Because as the DUP and others are coming to learn, the Ulster Unionist Party, under the outstanding leadership of Mike Nesbitt, is on the march – on the front foot, confident in ourselves, and united in our resolve and ability to achieve real and lasting positive change.

The days of pushing us around are over.

And that is because the prize for us is delivering better for ALL our people.

Better politics, a better society, a better lifestyle and a better economy.

I’ll be honest….being the sole Ulster Unionist Minister in the Executive wasn’t easy.

Very often my budget was severely cut and restricted because it didn’t fit in with DUP/SF party political interests.

The current political system as operated by the DUP and Sinn Fein makes it easy to play games with the smaller parties in the Executive. It needs to be reformed.

Of course, we have been there before.  Who can forget the shameful treatment of Michael McGimpsey as Health Minister, who, as we always knew he would, has been proven right in the warnings he gave – years ago - of the dangers and impending crises in our Health service.

But we should also focus on the positives of our time in Government and what was achieved in the Department of Regional Development.

Over four years we delivered many major projects, improved and stabilised our water services and left a lasting legacy in sustainable transport.

We saw ambitious infrastructure projects started and completed.

In the coming weeks important road schemes such as the A2 Greenisland, and the A8 Larne will be officially opened. Later on, the town of Magherafelt will have - at long last - a bypass to transform the local road network, and finally, after 40 long years of asking, and in time for the 2019 Open Golf Championship in Portrush, the A26 will be upgraded and improved. Other Parties may cut the tape and seek to claim the credit, but always remember it was THIS Party that made these schemes happen!

We had the best record in the Executive of drawing down European funding.

We now have record numbers making journeys by bus and rail and we made major improvements in the fleet.

And of course, we kick started the cycling revolution.

On my visits to other European cities, I have very often been struck by sometimes relatively simple initiatives which make for a healthier and happier environment and lifestyle for places and people. We need to encourage such initiatives in our towns and cities in Northern Ireland. Ulster Unionists have always recognised the need to adapt and embrace new ideas and new methods of doing things.

Bettering society is about Government putting a sharper focus on things that aren’t just good for the pocket, but are good for the soul too.

That is why the Arts sector in Northern Ireland cannot continue to be decimated.

Only in Northern Ireland could something as inclusive as the Arts become so bogged down in party politicking.

In any civilised society the Arts are there to question and provoke thought and entertain and reflect all walks of life, and we need to ensure that such ideals are protected and nurtured in Northern Ireland.

Otherwise, society will suffer.

Just as it does when the clumsy hands of our shared out Government tries to put everyone in neat little orange or green boxes.

How can we expect society to thrive when we have such binary thinking from the top down?

So, over the next hour you will hear several Ulster Unionist colleagues and spokespeople outline the beginnings of our alternative Programme for Government across a range of policy areas. 

If we are to achieve our vision of becoming the biggest Unionist Party again, this document will become a vital first stepping stone.

I hope that you will be enthused by what you will hear and that the motion will receive your support. I believe that with hard work and team work we can again lead not only for Unionism but provide the people of Northern Ireland with the positive and progressive leadership it truly yearns for and deserves to have.

Thank you and God Bless you.