Senior DUP and UUP figures back closer ties
TWO senior figures in the DUP and UUP have said their parties should work closer together, in light of the revelation about secret talks between the party leaderships.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell said that he could understand why some would be shocked at the news, which emerged on the BBC Hearts and Minds programme on Thursday night.
He said that because both parties frequently clashed in "bitter dispute" as they were pursuing the "same pool of voters", some would find the news of private discussions about unity startling.
But Mr Campbell said that from another perspective, because of the three-way split in unionism, the talks made sense.
"Because of there being, at some point in the next 14 months, an Assembly election, any prospect that emerges of a possibility that Martin McGuinness could be in line for the First Minister's position...means the only way of being fairly certain of negating that possibility would be if there was a closer working relationship between the two, if not three, brands of unionism."
Mr Campbell said that as far as he was concerned it would be unacceptable for any nationalist to become First Minister.
He said Mr McGuinness taking the top post "would be regarded in unionist circles as unacceptable, not just because of his past self-confessed involvement in terrorism, but also because he would only represent a small section of the Northern Ireland community".
"Unionism being the more predominant community, it should have the First Ministers' position, even setting aside McGuinness's background.
"From that perspective, most people would look at this and say there should be a meeting."
Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry, a senior Orangeman who was heavily involved in the Schomberg House talks, said that he had received a "tremendous" reaction to news of the meeting.
"I wouldn't want people to get excited or raise expectations but this could be one of those occasions where the unionist electorate are ahead of the politicians," he said.
Asked what the impact of the talks will be on his party's alliance with the Tories, Mr McNarry dismissed unease within his own party and the Conservatives, insisting that he did not see it "affecting that (alliance) at all".
"I'm still committed to the Conservative alliance. It too caught the imagination of the electorate and attracted others to get interested in politics.”
But he acknowledged: “Undoubtedly there will be people in my party, the DUP and the Conservatives who don’t like it.”
However, a TUV spokesman said that the news should not be shocking as there was little between the DUP and UUP.
“From the moment the DUP stole David Trimble’s clothes and policies and bought into his Belfast Agreement, there really has been little of substance to distinguish the UUP and DUP,” he said.
“So in pursuit of mutual self-interest, including preserving the iniquity of mandatory coalition, they probably hope for a future in merger, made all the more palatable for a DUP now petrified of fighting an election in its own besmirched name and record.”
And, he warned: “If Sir Reg’s party wishes to rescue them, that is a matter for the UUP, though they might be advised to watch their backs.”
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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