Comments for Young Unionists http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog Blog of the Youth Wing of the Ulster Unionist Party Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:47:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 Comment on Unionism going forward - O’Neill by Chekov http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/28/78/#comment-17 Chekov Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:55:46 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=78#comment-17 Well said O'Neill. Hopefully we will see some movement on this next week. It's certainly the best way forward for Northern Ireland and the UUP. Well said O’Neill. Hopefully we will see some movement on this next week. It’s certainly the best way forward for Northern Ireland and the UUP.

]]> Comment on UUP at the Slugger Awards by Slugger Political Awards Report: Changing not circling the political process | The Wardman Wire http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/07/uup-at-the-slugger-awards/#comment-16 Slugger Political Awards Report: Changing not circling the political process | The Wardman Wire Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:33:14 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=74#comment-16 [...] Young Unionists (Brief) [...] [...] Young Unionists (Brief) [...]

]]> Comment on Who owns the future? by Young Unionists » Blog Archive » Sincerity from Sinn Fein over Policing & Justice? http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/09/26/who-owns-the-future/#comment-15 Young Unionists » Blog Archive » Sincerity from Sinn Fein over Policing & Justice? Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:56:08 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=61#comment-15 [...] Junior Minister Gerry Kelly has been at the centre of recent controversy surrounding his appearence on the BBC documentary ‘Breakout’ where he, without any hint of remorse, described the moment where he put a put a bullet in the head of a Prison Officer. Gerry Kelly by this stage was a well know terrorist with such atrocities such as the Old Bailey bombing already under his belt. Only in Northern Ireland and the current corruption of government can an individual like Gerry Kelly not only play a leading role, but be widely touted as Sinn Fein’s nominee for a role in the Policing & Justice Ministry. Michael Shilliday has hit on some of the themes in a previous post. [...] [...] Junior Minister Gerry Kelly has been at the centre of recent controversy surrounding his appearence on the BBC documentary ‘Breakout’ where he, without any hint of remorse, described the moment where he put a put a bullet in the head of a Prison Officer. Gerry Kelly by this stage was a well know terrorist with such atrocities such as the Old Bailey bombing already under his belt. Only in Northern Ireland and the current corruption of government can an individual like Gerry Kelly not only play a leading role, but be widely touted as Sinn Fein’s nominee for a role in the Policing & Justice Ministry. Michael Shilliday has hit on some of the themes in a previous post. [...]

]]> Comment on An Open Debate Over the UUP-Conservative Negotiations by ulstersport http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/02/a-open-debate-over-the-uup-conservative-negotiations/#comment-14 ulstersport Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:27:49 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=63#comment-14 None of the parties are 'holier than thou' - including the UUP and the Conservatives. It's time to draw a line and move forward. I want a Conservative & Unionist Party in NI to succeed. I hope the leadership of the UUP has the vision to create something exciting for all those interested in the Union. That will require a full merger between the parties. Best wishes to all those involved in the negotiations. None of the parties are ‘holier than thou’ - including the UUP and the Conservatives. It’s time to draw a line and move forward. I want a Conservative & Unionist Party in NI to succeed. I hope the leadership of the UUP has the vision to create something exciting for all those interested in the Union. That will require a full merger between the parties. Best wishes to all those involved in the negotiations.

]]> Comment on An Open Debate Over the UUP-Conservative Negotiations by Rick Cairns http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/02/a-open-debate-over-the-uup-conservative-negotiations/#comment-13 Rick Cairns Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:33:49 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=63#comment-13 Ulstersport, Personally I would welcome Labour organising in Northern Ireland, not an issue for me. Maybe if the Conservatives had taken more interest in the Union before David Cameron's recent talks with the UUP then maybe you would have a platform to criticise the Ulster Unionists. The UUP in Northern Ireland have done what they thought best for the union, at times the results may be questioned, but it is not to be lectured from the 'holier than thou' standpoint you are taking. It is not the UUP than have opted out of Northern Ireland. If the concerns from a UUP point of view are unfathomable to you, then maybe that says something. Ulstersport,

Personally I would welcome Labour organising in Northern Ireland, not an issue for me. Maybe if the Conservatives had taken more interest in the Union before David Cameron’s recent talks with the UUP then maybe you would have a platform to criticise the Ulster Unionists. The UUP in Northern Ireland have done what they thought best for the union, at times the results may be questioned, but it is not to be lectured from the ‘holier than thou’ standpoint you are taking. It is not the UUP than have opted out of Northern Ireland.

If the concerns from a UUP point of view are unfathomable to you, then maybe that says something.

]]> Comment on An Open Debate Over the UUP-Conservative Negotiations by ulstersport http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/02/a-open-debate-over-the-uup-conservative-negotiations/#comment-12 ulstersport Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:53:52 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=63#comment-12 "what about the next Labour government?" Those Unionists within the UUP who support Labour should be pushing for the UK Labour Party to organise more formally in Northern Ireland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/northern_ireland/5384716.stm The idea should be for normal politics to return to Northern Ireland. In relation to your cautious approach to merging with the Conservative Party, it simply is not going to work. David Cameron talked about a new force in NI politics and offering people a new choice. The UUP needs to 'seize the day' or admit that the talk of a new force in NI politics was just hot air. By the time your "ground up competency based approach" could have any effect it will be too late for the Union. “what about the next Labour government?”

Those Unionists within the UUP who support Labour should be pushing for the UK Labour Party to organise more formally in Northern Ireland:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/northern_ireland/5384716.stm

The idea should be for normal politics to return to Northern Ireland.

In relation to your cautious approach to merging with the Conservative Party, it simply is not going to work. David Cameron talked about a new force in NI politics and offering people a new choice. The UUP needs to ’seize the day’ or admit that the talk of a new force in NI politics was just hot air. By the time your “ground up competency based approach” could have any effect it will be too late for the Union.

]]> Comment on An Open Debate Over the UUP-Conservative Negotiations by Rick Cairns http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/02/a-open-debate-over-the-uup-conservative-negotiations/#comment-11 Rick Cairns Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:17:11 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=63#comment-11 Maybe there is a common misunderstanding of how a federal relationship will look like in practice. For example lets look at Local Government and Northern Ireland Assembly level: are people really going to be won over by a 'candidate representing a UK wide Unionist Party'? We have PR elections for Stormont so lets not talk about vote splitting, the tories failed because they had next to no-one in touch with NI issues. At these levels the UUP have to prove their competence and have policies and campaigns to address Northern Ireland issues. Now when it comes to Westminster it is a different story. There we can run under a Conservative manifesto as the UUP can negotiate then 'buy in' to it. Of course you are right in one respect - it is all about being seen to change. That change has to be based on realistic expectations. I for one hope that David Cameron is the next PM, but I find the argument that because there will be a Conservative government shortly that the UUP just go full steam ahead with a merger quite frankly ridiculous; what about the next Labour government? The UUP should be looking to build for the future, building solid foundations and promoting people with talent who are connected with their electorate. This will require a ground up competency based approach rather than than an implementation from above. Maybe there is a common misunderstanding of how a federal relationship will look like in practice. For example lets look at Local Government and Northern Ireland Assembly level: are people really going to be won over by a ‘candidate representing a UK wide Unionist Party’? We have PR elections for Stormont so lets not talk about vote splitting, the tories failed because they had next to no-one in touch with NI issues. At these levels the UUP have to prove their competence and have policies and campaigns to address Northern Ireland issues.

Now when it comes to Westminster it is a different story. There we can run under a Conservative manifesto as the UUP can negotiate then ‘buy in’ to it. Of course you are right in one respect - it is all about being seen to change. That change has to be based on realistic expectations. I for one hope that David Cameron is the next PM, but I find the argument that because there will be a Conservative government shortly that the UUP just go full steam ahead with a merger quite frankly ridiculous; what about the next Labour government? The UUP should be looking to build for the future, building solid foundations and promoting people with talent who are connected with their electorate. This will require a ground up competency based approach rather than than an implementation from above.

]]> Comment on An Open Debate Over the UUP-Conservative Negotiations by ulstersport http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/02/a-open-debate-over-the-uup-conservative-negotiations/#comment-10 ulstersport Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:49:42 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=63#comment-10 The reason that the NI Conservatives don't bring many votes with them is that most Unionists have not wanted to split the vote further in past elections. I would suggest that there is not enough room for more than two Unionist parties in many areas given the strength of the anti-Unionist vote. In the past many UUP supporters switched to voting for the DUP after the incompetence of Trimble during the negotiations which led to the Belfast Agreement (destruction of RUC, rights of people in NI to be part of the 'Irish Nation', prisoners etc). Many would consider switching back if something different was on offer i.e. a candidate representing a UK wide Unionist Party. There is no way they will switch back to the same old UUP with a loose link to the Conservatives. The Conservatives will be the next Government of the UK. It's time for the UUP to get on with the merger. If the UUP waits much longer they will become a complete irrelevance. But has Sir Reg Empey got the leadership skills to make it happen? The DUP were running scared. Now they are sensing that Sir Reg doesn't have the courage to make it happen. The reason that the NI Conservatives don’t bring many votes with them is that most Unionists have not wanted to split the vote further in past elections. I would suggest that there is not enough room for more than two Unionist parties in many areas given the strength of the anti-Unionist vote.

In the past many UUP supporters switched to voting for the DUP after the incompetence of Trimble during the negotiations which led to the Belfast Agreement (destruction of RUC, rights of people in NI to be part of the ‘Irish Nation’, prisoners etc). Many would consider switching back if something different was on offer i.e. a candidate representing a UK wide Unionist Party. There is no way they will switch back to the same old UUP with a loose link to the Conservatives.

The Conservatives will be the next Government of the UK. It’s time for the UUP to get on with the merger. If the UUP waits much longer they will become a complete irrelevance. But has Sir Reg Empey got the leadership skills to make it happen? The DUP were running scared. Now they are sensing that Sir Reg doesn’t have the courage to make it happen.

]]> Comment on An Open Debate Over the UUP-Conservative Negotiations by Rick Cairns http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/02/a-open-debate-over-the-uup-conservative-negotiations/#comment-9 Rick Cairns Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:12:12 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=63#comment-9 The problem Ulstersport is that the Conservatives in Northern Ireland are bringing zero votes with them, they have been organised and contesting elections for almost 20 years and have been completely rejected by the electorate. What the UUP have to ascertain is whether a 'new political force' ie Conservative & Unionist party has the power to reach places the UUP has failed to reach. If the Conservatives (and especially the NI Conservatives) are serious about a full merger then they surely must realise to get to that point there has to be some proof, some physical manifestation of how the Tory and UUP brand can work together. The way to find that out is in a federal relationship and to start testing the waters. As it has been put elsewhere it allows 'plausible denialability', for both parties, if it fails. The problem Ulstersport is that the Conservatives in Northern Ireland are bringing zero votes with them, they have been organised and contesting elections for almost 20 years and have been completely rejected by the electorate. What the UUP have to ascertain is whether a ‘new political force’ ie Conservative & Unionist party has the power to reach places the UUP has failed to reach. If the Conservatives (and especially the NI Conservatives) are serious about a full merger then they surely must realise to get to that point there has to be some proof, some physical manifestation of how the Tory and UUP brand can work together. The way to find that out is in a federal relationship and to start testing the waters. As it has been put elsewhere it allows ‘plausible denialability’, for both parties, if it fails.

]]> Comment on An Open Debate Over the UUP-Conservative Negotiations by ulstersport http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/2008/10/02/a-open-debate-over-the-uup-conservative-negotiations/#comment-8 ulstersport Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:13:10 +0000 http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/blog/?p=63#comment-8 There needs to be a full merger with the Conservatives. Anything less will not attract voters back. It's a shame that Sir Reg Empey appears to be squandering the 'good will' factor created after the initial announcement. There needs to be a full merger with the Conservatives. Anything less will not attract voters back.

It’s a shame that Sir Reg Empey appears to be squandering the ‘good will’ factor created after the initial announcement.

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