Voters 'want greater cooperation between North's leaders'

The North's voters support the devolution of law and order powers but also want to see closer co-operation between political leaders Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, a new poll showed today.

Just hours after a Northern Ireland Office (NIO) survey last night revealed three quarters of the public favour the devolution of policing and justice powers, fresh research released today at the Northern Ireland Assembly endorsed the finding.

But the wide-ranging opinion poll commissioned by First Minister Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness also showed that a dramatic 91% of people want to see the two unionist and republican figureheads working together for the whole community.

The two men have suffered a famously frosty working relationship after years of tensions between the DUP and Sinn Féin, while hardline unionists outside the institutions attacked the DUP for sharing power with republicans at all.

But the research released today by the ministers reveals that 95% of nationalists and 92% of unionists agreed with the declaration: “I want Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to work together to do what is best for the people here.”

The test of public opinion offers an insight into voters’ views on the work of the power-sharing administration.

But the data is being released on the eve of a crucial Assembly vote tomorrow on the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster to the Assembly.

The transfer of the powers forms part of the Hillsborough Castle Agreement brokered last month by the DUP and Sinn Féin.

It plans for the swift devolution of policing powers, as republicans have demanded. But it also allows for the creation of a new system for overseeing loyal order parades, in line with unionist requests.

On the devolution of powers, the First Ministers’ poll found:

:: 72% believed local ministers were better placed to handle policing powers than London-appointed Direct Rule ministers. The figure included 83% of nationalists and 70% of unionists.

:: 72% said that, overall, they supported the devolution of the powers, with 13% opposed and the remainder unsure. The support came from 86% of nationalists and 70% of unionists.

:: 82% of people backed the devolution plan so that “the Executive can get on with the job of improving life for everyone in Northern Ireland”. A similarly worded question in the NIO poll found 75% support. The First Ministers’ poll found 94% nationalist support, plus 77% support in the unionist community.

But the research released by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister also provided an insight into the public perception of the top political office that the two leaders share.

The poll found:

:: 90% agreed it was “good that Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have to work together for the benefit of everyone”.

:: 91% endorsed the statement that “I want Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to work together to do what is best for people here”. The figure included 95% of nationalists and 92% of unionists.

Those polled welcomed the existence of a locally elected Assembly, but expressed concerns over issues such as the economy and crime.

Some of the findings, however, pointed to public uncertainty over the impact of the coalition government. One explanation is that any achievements are being overshadowed by continuing political rows between parties.

The research by Red Circle Communications involved a telephone survey of 1,001 people, representative of the adult population of the North.