Hermon and UUP in fresh row
RELATIONS between North Down MP Lady Slyvia Hermon and the Ulster Unionists reached a new low point when she attacked the party over its policing and justice vote.
Lady Hermon also criticised the UUP for attacking Secretary of State Shaun Woodward, whose efforts to get the UUP to support the Hillsborough deal sparked widespread anger in the party.
Mr Woodward had said that a vote in favour of the justice transfer would send a message to the dissident killers of Constable Stephen Carroll, to which the UUP responded that many of its members had been murdered.
The party – which has seemed reluctant to criticise Lady Hermon in recent weeks perhaps in the hope of a reconciliation – initially responded by saying that it was "disappointing" that she had made these points through the media, rather than at a key meeting of its party executive on Monday.
But as anger grew yesterday at what was seen as the worst example to date of her so-called "disloyalty", a much harder hitting statement was put out by MLA Tom Elliott.
In the interview with BBC Radio Ulster, Lady Hermon was challenged as to what she would say in response to those who felt she should resign from the party.
"Perhaps they are right," she replied. "I do not want to wound the Ulster Unionists."
Lady Hermon was scathing about the UUP vote when she addressed the NI Affairs Committee at Westminster on Wednesday.
She reportedly told members that she was deeply disappointed and embarrassed that the UUP had voted against the devolution of policing and justice.
When asked if she understood the party's decision, she said: "I do understand their difficulties but we have to focus here on, for example, where the real enemy lies.
The North Down MP added: "The real enemies are not fellow unionists in the DUP – in fact Sinn Fein is not our enemy.
"The enemies in this community are dissident republicans who if they had their way would continue to wreak havoc across Northern Ireland."
Mr Elliott said: "She is the only representative from a unionist perspective that I hear defending the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.
"This individual has been consistent in his role to keep the Ulster Unionists out of negotiations and seek their support without their input.
"He then issues threats about the security situation in a final last frustrating attempt to gain UUP support. What a disgrace."
He added that when she "aligned herself with Mr Woodward and his underhand tactics and claims that Sinn Fein is not our enemy it says more about her loyalty and commitment to unionism than any mud she slings at her own Ulster Unionist Party".
He added: "I suppose I look at this situation more in pity of her muddled thinking and disloyalty than in anger."
Lady Hermon had said: "I think about us as a pro-Agreement party. I think of the Ulster Unionists as a pro-devolution party and I think of the Ulster Unionists as the party of law and order.
"So I had hoped, though obviously in vain as it turns out, that in the end that whatever difficulties with the Executive and in the field of education, that nevertheless, we would have backed the devolution of policing and justice."
When she said she needed "leadership from (her] party, the interviewer asked her if Sir Reg Empey, the leader, had failed.
"I do not want to attack Reg at all personally," she said. "I am simply saying that from my perspective I thought we as a party should have been supporting the chief constable and other people calling for the devolution of policing and justice."
She added: "The DUP called it absolutely right on this occasion and they held together on this occasion."
Asked about her future, she said she was "very close to a decision" on whether to stand at the next election.
The UUP said that its Assembly group took the decision to oppose the devolution of policing and justice at this time with the full support of the UUP officer team and with the full support of the party executive.
It said: "It is regrettable that Lady Sylvia's position does not reflect the view of the party and it is disappointing that she failed to voice her concern at the party executive meeting rather than in the media."
The latest developments mean that the DUP may not stand against her if she contests the seat.
In North Down, the UUP have two possible candidates, Johnny Andrews and Bill McKendry, one of whom will be adopted by the party. The Conservative candidate is Ian Parsley. An interview panel will choose one agreed candidate to stand under the Tory-UUP banner.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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