Jonny Orr is the Independent running in Lagan Valley. We chatted to him and discussed marijuana, working with the political parties and more.
What can you tell people who don’t know you about yourself and what you could do for the people of Lagan Valley?
I see myself as a weird outsider and something different. The most important thing I can do is get in there and start learning what’s going on and find it relatable to bring back to people so voters can actually understand what is going on. The media doesn’t really report it well or accurately. We don’t really know what’s going on. A different issue comes along whether it’s RHI or fighting over a gay cake, you don’t really know what’s going on, on so many levels.
I can’t be all things to all people, but if I can at least make politics a little more understandable and take some of the bitterness out of it. I am aware we are in the entertainment era of politics. While I don’t want to be a complete joker or prat I understand why Trump was successful and people can understand what he was saying. When you look at Hillary she was just a career politician. For what I can do for people, actually sit down with the parties and build bridges. They don’t communicate very well internally I’ve noticed, and obviously not with one another outside of Stormont and the Councils. I can actually link them and get meetings with them. I want to start going for coffees with them. I want to say to them “I’m having coffee with UUP and SDLP, come along for a chat.” Work on issues and ideas. Get far more interactions going on, to try and humanize politics.
You’ve been a big advocate of legalising marijuana. Do you see that as something that could happen in the near future in our country and if elected would you bring it to the Assembly?
Just to be clear, Northern Ireland doesn’t have the power to legalise cannabis, to regulate it and tax it for recreational purposes. Which is what I would want to do, to follow the Colorado model. But in terms of what we can do in the Assembly right now with the devolved powers is regulate medical cannabis though the Health Ministry.
I see that as happening very very soon but it’s making sure it’s done right. You want people getting a quality product prescribed by a doctor. We’re at that age now when good quality products can be made now. There’s a few start-ups in the south of Ireland. Cannabis companies at a pharmaceutical level, not just some cowboy thing. While I would be cautious about it, I would certainly welcome it for those that are desperate for the medical benefits. I don’t mean just “I have a sore back so I’ll smoke some weed”, I mean things like epilepsy and MS and getting through cancer treatment.
You’ve spoken about the older population of Lisburn and how some of them are stuck in the past with their views to the other community. What can you say to these kind of people and why should they vote for you?
I don’t think that is my approach, that they should vote for me. I would try to make them aware of their options. That they have other options instead of the DUP. Like Trevor Lunn, he’s pretty sound. I actually sat down with him for a few hours the other day and got to know him. I must say I quite like him. He’s 70 and while he doesn’t designate himself as a Unionist he describes himself as one. So that would keep a lot of people happy. They would think because of the way the media portrays Alliance that they are some sort of Nationalist organisation over the flag. There are some old people who you can’t get through to and emphasise the importance of hospitals and certain issues that are more important than the constant constitutional issue. A lot of them are just so set in their ways.
I don’t mean to offend them. Sectarianism is different with older people. It exists with younger people too but it’s almost more like a football mentality I think with the young. There’s obviously a scale of hatred there and bad blood but with older people it just seems they don’t like Catholics in general. But the younger generations have Catholic mates but they don’t like outspoken Nationalists so it’s a little different. So while I can’t be all things to all people I can make them aware of their options.
Recent polls suggest the DUP may not get the 30 seats needed to be able to use the Petition of Concern, if so marriage equality is a possibility. But if they do win the required amount of seats, what next for this battle?
It’s got to be educate the electorate over the dangers of the Petition of Concern. People understand we don’t really live in a democracy until it is restricted or abolished, preferably abolished. I accept if you go into that chamber and someone from the other side wins that it’s a democratic process. Marriage equality should exist by now but it doesn’t because it’s been undemocratically blocked. Just keep educating people and keep fighting but I’ve got a good feeling that it’s going to happen. The only fear is Jim Allister helping them.
You recently shared an image showing that Northern Ireland had the highest suicide rate for a second year in a row. What can the Assembly do to tackle this issue when they return?
Pull their fucking finger out! It’s not been a high enough priority. I know a lot of people with mental health issues contacting the Health Minister, asking for meetings and just being denied. Even a chat. The system is failing them. There’ll always be a press release “Oh, we have some money for mental health” but they aren’t approaching it in the right way. It has to be in education as well. We have to teach children about their mind, how it works and the pitfalls of depression and how to deal with it. I spoke with a Counsellor and had a really good chat and he just explained how something was wrong with him as a teenager and when he became an adult he realised everyone goes through this. If we had a better understanding of this it would make a big difference. Making sure there is support there in education and that doesn’t take big money. You know, ideas being shared.
With mental health I personally plan to shawshank Westminster. Just torture the treasury. Make videos, get people to share their experience and tackle the question of mental health. It’s just not talked about and some of it is old attitudes. It just needs a completely new approach. I believe our government contributes to it with that attitude they send out a message. They say gay people aren’t welcome. LGBT suicides are up again because the government makes them feel like second class citizens. So there’s simple things we can do that won’t cost money that would have a big big impact.
You stated that you offered to run as a Green Party candidate in this election, but couldn’t due to rules meaning you had to be a member for so long before running. Is that something you may revisit after the election?
I’m always open to stuff but what I’m thinking right now is it’s important for Northern Ireland to have an independent voice. I can say and do things that the parties can’t. The public definitely need that. But also I admire a lot of the core values of People Before Profit and the Greens. I get along well with Alliance and UUP. A lot of the parties here have good people. But I think the best thing that I can do is network with them.
I have particular strong relationship with the Greens in Lagan Valley. I’d help build them up and it would help me as well. It would be a good exchange of ideas and resources. I go to a lot of the meetings and I really really like them. I have a lot of time for them. I assume People Before Profit will eventually run a candidate in every area in Northern Ireland. While I don’t necessarily agree with every policy, with those two parties in particular I share a lot of crossover with and see a lot of potential for building bridges and should definitely focus on working together.
I’m not sure if I should say this now, but one of the ideas I’d like promote is free public transport for a year. It would help the economy, increase employment options and just help health and wellbeing. Shake things up a little. Family and friends can visit more. It would radically transform the country. Even if it was just for one year. And the environmental impact, with less traffic. So that idea would appeal to the core values of the Greens and People Before Profit. Within the next 5 years it is foreseeable that they would have enough clout to get a ministerial position. They can have transport and run this programme. Stuff like that and it’s something I’m working on. I’d really like to do something to really shake things up and I would like to think they would at least hear me out on an idea like that.