Letter: There's an abundance of talent within unionism not being utilised - but it needs one party to win, not three

His most telling point made is in the closing comment, ‘If his (Burrows) MLAs force him out who is going to do a better job for the UUP?’

He makes a fair point, given that the litany of past leaders - Empey, Elliott, Nesbitt, Aiken, Swann and Beattie – failed miserably to mark their time with exceptional panache or success.

For most ordinary unionists there is far too much a self-interest investment in the Burrows 'me' factor and less in the collective 'we' consolidation of putting the country first. Do not be misled by the media invention of the 'Burrows bounce', next year's elections will decide.

Ben Lowry infuses the issue of, will the Burrows leadership be judged on the premise that he is the best of a bad bunch or simply the best choice open to the UUP? Either way, and it is a good question, it says little for the prospect of saving the UUP from drowning in its flood of ineffectiveness.

When it comes to defying obituarists, who will argue against the charge that the UUP wrote its own obituary notice when failing time over to challenge the DUP takeover of political unionism?

Does anybody remember the last period when the UUP held the office of first minister or deputy first minister? Does anybody back themselves in believing that the UUP under Jon Burrows in the next decade will hold the first minister or deputy first minister positions?

What we do know is that within the ambit of political unionism there exists an abundance of talent. It is a strength to be utilised under one policy and one leader taking the fight to nationalism in Stormont.

Therein we also know lies the problem that self-centred, self-interest parties and personalities are failing to resolve.

My contention, and I believe the conviction of most true unionists, remains that political unionism in its present state of being humbled by rampant republicans is not fit to stand up unless and until formed out of an amalgamation of all three parties into a strong united single unionist party.

Back to Ben Lowry. At times of dire straits his paper rallied to the unionist cause with wise council, often alone as the only unionist daily newspaper in NI-UK. Long may the News Letter flourish.

Perhaps Ben would invite the unionist leaders and wannabes to write down for its readership a response to the question – 'what better job are you going to do for unionism and NI-UK?'

David McNarry, ex Ulster Unionist and Ukip MLA for Strangford