Letter: The idea of a single unionist party in Northern Ireland is ludicrous and smacks of desperation
A letter from Edward Ferrin:
The constant unionist mantra that there should be a ‘single unionist party’ is getting a tad boring now and is repeated by those who have little intellectual or political intelligence to think outside the box and think about a wider strategy for unionism.
There are currently three major unionist parties in Northern Ireland – the DUP, UUP and TUV.
Each can be described as a party founded in hardline unionism but one which engages in power-sharing, a conservative party that tries to portray itself as liberal, and a party formed by those within unionism who still believe the old days of Stormont majority rule by unionism is possible in the 21st century.
None of these parties are winning over the apathetic unionist voters who don’t go out to vote. If three parties can’t, how in the world could a single unionist party do it? Who would be the leader of this so-called unity party? What style of politics would this party advocate for?
Unionists throughout Northern Ireland are not homogeneous in their outlook on politics and issues that matter to them.
A unionist voter in Coleraine is not voting for all the same reasons as a voter on the Shankill Road in Belfast – each voter has a different perspective on why they wish to cast a vote in an election.
Yes – many will do so because they want to maintain and strengthen the pro-Union vote, but unionist voters are not united, nor do they speak with one voice on social issues or economic policy.
You can be a unionist and be a liberal, you can be a unionist and a socialist, or a unionist and a conservative.
Far too often, unionist politicians in Northern Ireland have decried ‘betrayal’ if a fellow unionist does not conform to the historical and presently dominant labels of Orangeism, Protestant Evangelicalism and social conservatism.
The sad reality is that all three of those labels have cost unionism – not benefitted it.
Unionism is in a strong position in Scotland and in Wales because unionist voters in each jurisdiction have choice between parties on the left, centre and the right.
Northern Ireland is where pro-Union politics is at its weakest because we have limited choice between the pro-Union parties.
The DUP, UUP and TUV are very similar in their social and economic outlooks – that is a fundamental reason why pro-Union parties have struggled to enthuse voters and expand the pro-Union vote.
A single unionist party can’t merge contrasting personalities, can’t bridge the gap between those on the left, centre and right of the political spectrum and can’t solve the fundamental issue facing pro-Union politics – the failure to promote a positive, forward-thinking vision for Northern Ireland’s future as part of the United Kingdom.
Any unionist who argues that a single unionist party will solve all the potential problems with a further decline in the unionist vote is making a lazy argument that simply doesn’t accept reality.
Edward Ferrin, Belfast BT14