Alliance may see it as pre-historic, but they did somersaults to thwart unionist views before

I hold no brief for the UUP, or indeed for any politician, but why is Nuala McAllister so indignant ('˜Councillor McGimpsey's time would be better spent helping Alliance combat secrecy in local government', Letters, News Letter, October 22) about Chris McGimpsey's complaint of Alliance support for Sinn Fein?
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Oct 2018, 14:01 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2018, 15:05 BST
David Trimble in 2001, a year when the Alliance Party re-designated to aid his bid to be elected First MinisterDavid Trimble in 2001, a year when the Alliance Party re-designated to aid his bid to be elected First Minister
David Trimble in 2001, a year when the Alliance Party re-designated to aid his bid to be elected First Minister

SEE ORIGINAL LETTER HERE.

Perhaps it touches a raw spot because of course Alliance does rather have form for that sort of behaviour, for acting in a way some might see as something short of honourable to thwart UUP views.

A week is a long time in politics, so maybe Nuala sees events way back in 2001 as positively pre-historic and irrelevant these days, even if anyone remembered.

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Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

But those of us not suffering from political amnesia recall that was the year up at Stormont when Alliance performed a particularly spectacular feat of political gymnastics.

Where many of Trimble’s own party did not support his re-election as First Minister on grounds they claimed he was too soft, Alliance used D’Hondt rules to redesignate as Unionist, created a false Unionist majority, obtained their desired result and promptly re-redesignated.

Thereby disproving Churchill’s maxim about switching political allegiance, namely that “you can rat but you can’t re-rat”.

Davy Wight, Carrickfergus

Related topics:UUPSinn FeinFirst Minister