th - century ▁Australian ▁expl orer ▁and ▁the ▁sole ▁surv iv or ▁of ▁the ▁Bur ke ▁and ▁Will s ▁expedition . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁in ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁The ▁Alliance ▁Party ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁as ▁an ▁alternative ▁to ▁sect arian ▁politics . ▁Ald erd ice ▁was ▁on ▁the ▁executive ▁committee ▁of ▁the ▁party ▁between ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁chair ▁of ▁the ▁policy ▁committee ▁between ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁the ▁party ▁vice - ch air ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 , ▁before ▁becoming ▁the ▁party ▁leader ▁ahead ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁general ▁election . ▁He ▁cont ested ▁B elf ast ▁East ▁for ▁the ▁party ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁He ▁received ▁ 3 2 . 1 % ▁of ▁the ▁vote ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 , ▁the ▁highest ▁percentage ▁achieved ▁by ▁Alliance ▁in ▁an ▁individual ▁seat ▁in ▁a ▁West min ster ▁election ▁until ▁Na omi ▁Long ' s ▁historic ▁victory ▁for ▁the ▁party ▁in ▁B elf ast ▁East ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁general ▁election . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 8 , ▁in ▁Alliance ' s ▁ke yn ote ▁post - Ang lo ▁Irish ▁Ag re ement ▁document , ▁" G over ning ▁with ▁Cons ent ", ▁Ald erd ice ▁called ▁for ▁a ▁de vol ved ▁power - sh aring ▁government ▁based ▁on ▁a ▁volunt ary ▁coal ition