'There's no money': Health, Education and abortion key issues in South Antrim

With only one week to go until Northern Ireland goes to the polls as part of the UK General Election on 4 July, we are continuing our tour of each constituency to hear the issues which matter to our readers.

The next stop on our tour, which is part of the UK-wide 5000 Voices project, takes us to South Antrim where the DUP's Paul Girvan is fighting to retain his seat against the former UUP Health Minister Robin Swann.

To gain an insight into what matters to voters in the constituency, we visited Antrim town to speak to those on the ground and hear what their biggest issues are going into the election.

Read more: 'We need more funding': Healthcare and Irish Sea border key issues for Upper Bann voters

Read more: 'A change is needed': Lack of investment in NI and health waiting lists key issues for North Belfast voters

The state of the health service is an issue that came up multiple times with concerns around how it would be funded a major priority for some.

One man told us: "With mental health awareness, the budget has been cut and cut because they [the health service] have no money. In every workplace, there is mental health issues which is causing severe damage to the economy because they are taking time off work."

Another said: "I have a really good experience with the health service through my grandson being in there and education probably. The same grandson is in special education and is being treated well but there is lots of kids who don't get that opportunity."

Meanwhile, one man told us: "They have to get something done about [the health service]. But I don't think there is going to be anything done because the British aren't going to cough up the money."

Another issue which came up during our conversations was the issue of abortion access in Northern Ireland.

One man told us: "I am a Christian, we are both Christians and working in the Christian community in this area, we are definitely concerned around Westminster's interference over issues that are devolved such as abortion legislation in 2019. They gave us the most radical abortion laws in Europe."

Elsewhere, another issue a voter mentioned was grass-cutting in public places.

"I would like to see more things fixed up. There was all this No Mow May but I think it has given councils or whichever department the right to let things go. I would like to see places generally looked after a bit better."

Looking at who our next Prime Minister might be, we also asked for people's opinions on both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. Both leaders had a mixed reception in the constituency.

On Rishi Sunak, one man said: "I thought he was quite good at managing affairs. It will be interesting to see in the next three or four years if we get a change of government whether they can do any better or not."

A woman told us: "I liked Rishi Sunak. I don't think he has got much of a chance but I think he is trying. I don't think he puts himself across as well as some of the other leaders. I do think he is trying but his party are letting him down."

A man added: "I think he was very brave coming in at covid and taking that risk to save thousands of jobs and businesses and maybe people have forgotten that. It looks like he is maybe going to be voted out but I think he is a straight [talking] man and he is an honest man and I think a lot more people should be voting for the person not just the party."

However, another man described Rishi Sunak as: "incompetent. Totally and utterly incompetent. At the time of covid he advertised eating for half price and then lo and behold, we had covid again."

On Keir Starmer, a voter said: "The less said, the better because I don't think either of the two of them would make even a quarter of a Prime Minister."

Another added: "He comes across as a decent chap."

However, a woman told us that she was "scared" of what Mr Starmer might do if he gets into office.

"It looks very like he is going to get in but as a pensioner I am concerned about what he is going to do. The triple-lock [on pensions] might go the first day he comes in and while it doesn't really affect me, I don't like what he might do on some of the schools and the tax he might impose here."

One man finished by adding: "I am not sure I would trust him in terms of the Labour Party's stance on Israel/Gaza."

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