A time of reflection for unionists of every hue
IT was a day of high drama at the King's Hall in Belfast as the results of the European election were revealed.
There was joy for Jim Nicholson, who confounded many pundits by holding his share of the ballot, and securing the second seat. Against the odds, the "new force" of the Ulster Unionists and Conservatives could scarcely have hoped for a better first outing.
But the headlines will focus on the astonishing collapse of the DUP vote, and the remarkable showing of Jim Allister's TUV.
The outgoing MEP fought a simple but effective campaign, which centred on the issue of Sinn Fein in government, and highlighted his own record as a public representative.
His support has confirmed that there is a sizeable chunk of the Unionist electorate which is still deeply uncomfortable with, if not opposed to, the notion of power-sharing with republicans.
Over the next few days and weeks, the DUP will have to take stock, and face the reality that many former supporters are not yet convinced of the benefits of the devolved arrangements at Stormont.
First Minister Peter Robinson pointed out that the campaign was fought in the middle of a "perfect storm" and there seems no doubt that the DUP, as the strongest party at Westminster, faced the full anger of the public at the MPs expenses scandal. Yet, he will realise that there are probably more fundamental forces at work, illustrated as well in the shockingly poor turnout in some unionist areas.
This apathy and the three-way split in the pro-Union vote opened the way for Sinn Fein to top the poll, and although republicans sought to play down this landmark, it is a psychological blow to the pro-British population.
Should this pattern be repeated in an Assembly election, it would deliver Sinn Fein as the largest party, and as a consequence, Martin McGuinness as First Minister at Stormont.
That is a scenario that unionists of every hue should reflect upon today
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
