Young
Unionists

On Saturday December 6th Conservative Party Leader David Cameron addressed the Ulster Unionist Party conference at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast. There is a lot I could say, but I think it would be better if you watch and listen to David himself. Enjoy.

(Apologies, cannot for some reason embed the video)

Here is the the speech in full at the UUP website.

I read with interest a BBC news report from the 19 June where Peter Robinson urged negotiation with Sinn Fein over the education issue. Mr Robinson said that the executive needed to “get into negotiation mode” and that if they could agree over education it would show they could agree over anything.

My response to this would be to advise Mr Robinson to get agreement within his own party before he tries to broker a deal with Sinn Fein. His own Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA made his views on education negotiations very clear in a letter to his local paper the Ulster Star.

In this letter Jeffrey Donaldson accused my good self of defeatism for appealing for negotiations months ago. Furthermore Mr Donaldson accused me of deliberately misleading the public for insisting that negotiations where necessary and that the DUP’s “salvation of the Grammar schools” at St Andrews wouldn’t be enough to keep academic selection.

In this letter Jeffrey Donaldson insisted that “the law was on the side of the grammar schools” and that any attempt at negotiations would merely “split” unionist resistance to the scheme. If Alderman Donaldson still believes this to be the case then we can no doubt expect a stern rebuke against the first minister. This rebuke may not be timely as it is over 3 months since the decision was made but our wee Jeffrey has the reassurance that the law is on his side and that the DUP saved Grammar schools at St Andrews. Surely this reassurance is more important than the ministerial paycheck.

As the old saying goes, ‘a week is a long time in politics’, so coming back after over a year to blog for the Young Unionists it is hard to know where to pick up. When I was last writing I had the bit between my teeth over the Ulster Unionists taking the leap into oppositional territory in the Northern Ireland Assembly, as I was, and still am, a believer in providing effective opposition to those currently governing. On that point I believe it is getting clearer by the day the democratic deficit that exists In Northern Ireland and I hope the powers that be know it cannot last forever and will be actively exploring all avenues open to them.

The topic of the moment (apart from the non-meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive) is the ongoing speculation over the talks between David Cameron’s Conservative Party and the Ulster Unionist Party. I do not intend to sugar coat my analysis of the situation nor do I intend to spin a line simply to stay out of limelight: what I can offer is simply how I read the ongoing negotiations and the speculation by the media (blogosphere included) that can hopefully engender a healthy debate. I will try and take it point by point but I will be happy to respond to any issues raised at a later date or simply by replying to any comments.

Is it a merger?

To the best of my knowledge there has been zero talk about a merger within the UUP. To be frank a merger would be a crazy path to follow as beyond a few statistics gleamed from polls the two parties have very little firm evidence of what electoral response they will have. A federal model for cooperation appears much more workable, and certainly from an Ulster Unionist perspective, this will be the avenue that answers a lot of the questions. Models that have been mentioned elsewhere are the CDU/CSU model from Germany and a Canadian federal model. I have taken a look at the Bavarian model from Germany in a bit of detail and it certainly is interesting, but we will be setting our own precedent and looking at other models for inspiration.

What about those who identify with Labour, Lib Dem or anti-Tory?

Bob McCartney is probably best known for his campaign for equal citizenship and calls for the mainland UK parties to organise and campaign in Northern Ireland; I for one will relish the day when we have the established parties based along socio-economic lines, and those days are certainly getting a bit closer. Chris McGimpsey has already declared his discomfort and I respect him for his views as he has been a strong advocate for the union for many a year. Of course it is to be expected that those who are not naturally conservatives to look else where, but there are not many of them currently within the UUP or if they are they are more likely to horrified by Gordon Brown and New Labour.

I have heard a lot about the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 that has led to anti-Tory feelings. Let me be clear: are unionists more happy to have Sinn Fein in government than to vote for a Conservative? If so I am worried.

What if the UUP are lumped with policies that are adverse to their own electorate?

A federal model, speficially for the Northern Ireland Assembly, allows the UUP to shape its manifestos and pledges to their own immediate electorate. At Westminster the ideal scenario for the UUP is to negotiate and sign up to a Conservative manifesto; the worst case scenario is they stand up for Northern Ireland’s interests when there is a conflict ie vote against the Conservative line.

What’s in it for the UUP?

An optimist would say to articulate the need for pan-UK Unionism, potentially having Ministers or Junior Ministers in the Cabinet, playing a full-time role representing Northern Ireland and of course injecting a bit of life-blood into the party. A cynic would say finance, direction and a slice of the pie (peerages). It is too early to pass judgment.

What’s in it for David Cameron?

Times have changed, the fight for the Union does not have Northern Ireland as the primary battlefield: It is now in Scotland in the shape of Alex Salmond. Being a ‘party of the union’ David Cameron needs to have a Conservative Party representing all the constituent parts of the UK and that (if you need reminding) includes Northern Ireland. The UUP can fulfill that role. Is it hard to see David Cameron as a Unionist? He is making the right noises and the move away (a deliberate move at that) from an English orientated party is positive and I dare say rewarding.

What’s the downside?

Here’s where I will get a few looks to kill over the next few days. Not only were the electorate blissfully unaware of the ongoing negotiations between the UUP and the Conservatives - so were the UUP party members which appears to stand in complete contrast to the NI Tories. For something as potentially important preparation is needed to enable the party to filter the news down in a controlled and manageable fashion. Too late now. Having just gone through a drawn out constitutional review with consultations throughout Northern Ireland I for one would have expected some effort by the leadership in this regard.

Scare tactics are being used to talk about Tory Candidates already ’selected’ to contest seats in Northern Ireland which is just a nuisance. David Trimble’s recent appearance at the Conservative Conference got a few tongues wagging about his role in all of this. For myself the Westminster seats of South Belfast and Fermangh & South Tyrone are an obstacle that needs to be dealt with delicately and I fear Lord Trimble’s remarks were out of touch with his former party.

Well I was going to do something like a ‘logical conclusion’ but I feel all unionists need to think long and hard about the UUP-Conservatve talks and potential future relationship. I am a unionist first and foremost and that will not change. The question I have asked myself is simple: ‘Would I feel uncomfortable as a Conservative Unionist?’.

The answer is no. I already am one.