The SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, said that his party would decentralise 2,000 civil service jobs out of Belfast if the Executive and Assembly were restored after the November 26th poll.
Mr Durkan said yesterday that for far too long the eastern parts of Northern Ireland prospered while the west suffered. He accused former unionist administrations and British governments of systematically disadvantaging the west.
"If we are to deliver for all the people then we need to recognise the imbalances that exist against areas west of the Bann and we need to register the necessity of a level playing field. Our goal is equality of opportunity and treatment. No more, no less," he said.
Mr Durkan said the SDLP was pledged to:
• Decentralise 2,000 civil services jobs around the North in five years.
• Campaign for joining the euro-zone.
• Secure investment to upgrade key roads and rail links.
• Agree an all-Ireland marketing co-operation and investment strategy.
• Develop an all-Ireland energy market.
• Remove cross border trading impediments.
The SDLP leader said people must stand against those whose agenda is to destroy the Belfast Agreement. "This means that the DUP and the other no-men must be stopped. Not just because of their wreckers' charter in terms of the agreement. Not just because of their pedigree of holding up progress and trying to hold back those of us who are pursuing change.
"But because if they can stop political progress by putting the brakes on the agreement, they will be able to further frustrate and delay social and economic progress by holding up the sort of change I have just spoken about."
The East Derry DUP MP, Mr Gregory Campbell, was dismissive of criticism of his party from the SDLP, UUP and others.
"Election day will soon dawn and there will be an opportunity for all those unionists who are sick, sore and tired of broken promises, disillusioned with those who are either inept, incompetent or utterly devoid of any principles misrepresenting them," he said.
"A reality check is coming for these defeatists. Nationalist advantage cannot continue. Republican rule through the all-Ireland bodies and the unaccountable North-South bodies has to be replaced," said Mr Campbell.
"The right number of votes on 26th November by unionists will ensure that a better deal, a fair deal begins to see the light of day whether those resisting it, like it or not. We want a fair deal for each community, jobs on the basis of merit not recruited because of your religion as in the police. We want a better deal for our community, with no inbuilt bias and partisanship like the 1998 (Belfast Agreement) model had at its core. What have these parties got to be afraid of?" he added.