The mantra of ‘vote DUP to stop Sinn Fein’ no longer holds sway with grassroots unionists

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s response to the new LucidTalk poll — which puts the DUP behind both the UUP and TUV — needs to be more than his panic call for greater unionist unity (‘Plea for unified approach after poll finds DUP slump’, August 30, see link below).

One clear message emerging from the research is that the DUP mantra ‘vote for us or get Sinn Fein’ no longer holds water in grass roots unionism.

Just as the party has been ready to change its views and abandon its election promises to placate Sinn Fein, it would appear that Sir Jeffrey is now attempting to present his party as the one to curtail Sinn Fein.

Thankfully, the electorate are no longer so easily duped.

Does Sir Jeffrey really believe that true unionists don’t see through the spineless stance of the DUP whose every action has the primary goal of keeping its MLAs in a job. If the DUP is seriously repentant of its many betrayals, it needs to clearly say so and publicly accept that other unionists have been justified in their scathing criticism. If they are unrepentant then they must make a meaningful response to voter opinion and be seen to put the Union well before their jobs.

Cliff Cardwell, Co Londonderry

DUP calls for ‘unified approach’ from unionists to curtail Sinn Fein

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