Mrs Long said the General Election was an opportunity for people to help lead change by giving their views on the need to evolve the local structures to ensure no one party could collapse things again.

“Northern Ireland has been transformed in so many ways since the Good Friday Agreement and yet has not been able to reach its full potential, being held back by the failings of our political institutions. Political division has led to poor outcomes on some things and complete deadlock on others," she said.

“Alliance wants to see a stable and sustainable power-sharing that respects liberal and democratic principles, while respecting everyone equally. Northern Ireland deserves nothing less.

“Alliance has been leading change in our society and are committed to the principles and spirit of the Good Friday Agreement but it was always meant to evolve alongside society. But it has not, instead its architecture continuing to afford additional privileges to those who remain wedded to binary politics, at the expense of stability and progress. The continuing cycle of ransom politics proves the institutions are fundamentally unstable.

“Reform must not be left to local parties alone. The UK and Irish Governments must lead and drive reform. But in this General Election, people can make their views on reform known by voting for those parties such as Alliance who have campaigned on it for a long time.

“It would see moves such as the designation system abolished, removal of cross-community voting, and those who do not wish to nominate as First and deputy first Ministers be allowed to step aside and allow those who want to get on with the job to do so.”