OPINION: Unionist unity is illogical, impractical and wrong
THE spectre of so-called unionist unity that has reappeared is truly a false idol, but it is also demeaning to the ethos of the UUP.
Fundamentally, I object to any implication that the DUP is morally, ethically or idealistically equivalent or superior to the UUP.
To illustrate I could cite any amount of evidence, but will restrain myself to two recent examples.
The first is Peter Hain’s allegation in his memoirs that a major contributing factor to the DUP’s entry into government in 2007 was the threat of stopping MLAs’ wages and expenses. Hardly inspiring stuff.
However, more potent is the recent revelation that DUP councillors in Cookstown consistently refuse to stand in silence in memory of Sinn Fein councillors’ recently deceased relatives.
Quite frankly, I want nothing to do with those people, particularly given that to my knowledge, no reprimand has been publicly forthcoming from DUP high command.
Contrast that with open disquiet within the party and a subsequent swift apology in the wake of a misjudged comment from the UUP leader.
These arguments must, however, be seen through the partisanship that inevitably comes from being a UUP member. You don’t spend the better part of a decade in electoral battle with people only to hoist the white flag at the drop of a hat. What is much more objective are the cold, hard facts that we have readily available.
Rodney Connor is not an MP. In fact he polled more than 1,500 fewer votes than the DUP and UUP combined at the previous Westminster election, and 3,500 fewer than the DUP-backed and UUP candidates at the one before that. The idea that united unionism is even equal to the sum of its parts is disproven in one constituency.
If united unionism was the natural way of things, the DUP would never have existed in the first place. If it was good for unionism, it would have happened by now, and if it was wanted the people would have voted for it. The idea that a “cosy relationship” between the UUP and DUP benefits anyone is fanciful.
Taking the competition out of unionism in terms of support and ideas will simply leave it complacent and devoid of new ideas.
This is said to be the reason why long-serving governments get voted out of office. What happens when an entire ideology gets into that position?
The fact is that there are 100,000 voters in Northern Ireland who disagree with the ‘all Prods together’ vision of unionism. If the UUP leaves them, they will vote for someone else. And so will I.
* Michael Shilliday is a former UUP researcher at Stormont who is studying law in London
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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