#GEIII [Northern Ireland] Meneerduif visits Titanic Quarter to speak with apprentices and engineers

Campaign stops are not always about community halls and doorstep conversations. Sometimes they take you to the places where Northern Ireland quite literally built its reputation. Liberal Democrat candidate Meneerduif spent the afternoon in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, speaking with apprentices, engineers, dockworkers and small business owners about jobs, long-term investment and what it would take to ensure that advanced industry continues to thrive here.

The visit began along the historic slipways, with the cranes towering overhead and the harbour wind cutting across the yard. During a break, several apprentices gathered to speak candidly about wages, training and whether Belfast could offer them a stable future. One young welder explained that many of his classmates were already considering work in England or Scotland because contracts felt uncertain at home. A software engineer involved in maritime logistics added that Northern Ireland produced exceptional prototypes and skilled graduates, but scaling and long-term investment too often happened elsewhere. Meneerduif listened closely, asking what would convince them to stay. The answers were consistent: stability, contracts that land locally, and leadership that treats Northern Ireland as an economic asset rather than a political complication.

As more workers joined the discussion, Meneerduif addressed the group with the old Harland & Wolff cranes visible behind him. He began by acknowledging the symbolism of the location, noting that Belfast’s industrial history still shapes how the world sees the city. “We are standing in a place that once built ships known across the globe,” he said. “The Titanic was constructed here, and the name Belfast travelled with it. History alone, however, will not secure our future. That requires deliberate political choices.” When someone jokingly called out, “Just don’t let this one sink,” he smiled and replied, “Don’t worry I’ll never let go of Belfast industry.” The crowd laughed, but the point was serious: industry here must not be something politicians praise in speeches and neglect in practice.

Drawing on his experience as former Defence Secretary, Meneerduif spoke about the connection between national security and local prosperity. He explained that defence modernisation, when done responsibly, should strengthen communities like Belfast rather than bypass them. Investment in naval systems, maritime research and advanced manufacturing can create apprenticeships, long-term contracts and high-skilled employment if government is intentional about where that money flows. He stressed that increasing defence capability is not simply about ships or equipment, but about supply chains, engineering expertise and industrial resilience. If the United Kingdom is to remain secure, he argued, it should also be ensuring that regions like Northern Ireland benefit directly from that commitment.

He then turned to his time as Foreign Secretary, arguing that Northern Ireland’s geographic and political position gives it unique advantages in trade and cooperation. Stable international partnerships, predictable trading arrangements and transatlantic collaboration can translate into export growth and research partnerships for Belfast-based firms. Businesses cannot expand, he noted, if they face constant uncertainty. What they require is clarity and consistency from Westminster, not repeated disruption. Northern Ireland should be positioned as a bridge, between Great Britain and Ireland, between Europe and North America, rather than treated as an afterthought in negotiations.

The discussion moved naturally toward green maritime innovation and future industries. Several apprentices asked whether talk of green shipping and new fuels was realistic or simply another policy trend. Meneerduif responded that global shipping is already shifting toward lower-emission technologies and smarter logistics systems. If Belfast invests early in those capabilities, it can secure contracts and expertise that last decades. If it hesitates, others will move first. He emphasised that this transition must support workers through training and apprenticeships, ensuring that technological change strengthens rather than destabilises the local workforce.

After the formal remarks ended, Meneerduif remained among the crowd, speaking individually with trainees about pathways into skilled employment and with small suppliers about export finance and procurement access. The conversations were practical rather than abstract. Workers wanted assurance that investment would mean real contracts and not just announcements. They wanted to know that Northern Ireland’s industrial base would be defended with the same seriousness as its political stability.

As the afternoon drew to a close and the light faded over the harbour, the message of the visit was clear. Northern Ireland does not lack skill, ambition or history. What it requires is steady leadership that understands both international strategy and local industry, and that refuses to treat Belfast’s economic potential as something to be admired from a distance. Meneerduif left Titanic Quarter convinced that with the right political focus, this region can once again build for the world, and this time ensure the rewards remain at home.

Vote Meneerduif. Vote Liberal Democrat.