Trevor Ringland: UUP should have Northern Ireland as its core belief

At its most basic it is the only party that loves the ‘Baby’. The ‘Baby’ being Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland exists for a whole range of historical, cultural, economic, security and social reasons and to be frank those reasons have never been addressed in any other way other than to confirm that its continued existence is justified for the foreseeable future.

I would argue that it is the solution to the ‘Irish Question’ and the sooner we appreciate that and enjoy what it has to offer us as a home for ourselves and all of its children the better.

In the past the there have been those who have been trying to kill the baby, stifle its development or shape in a narrow or unrealistic way.

In particular the narrow and deeply flawed political ideologies represented by the DUP and Sinn Fein have shown an inclination to kill the baby and take a half each.

Reluctantly they were dragged to a position that they would at least agree to share it but they continue to pull at its head and feet and stifle its potential.

So since the Ulster Unionist Party loves the baby and that child is going to continue to exist for the foreseeable future and probably forever then how does the UUP ensure that it prospers.

Tying itself to the right wing of so called unionism would not in my view be a good idea.

Working with and challenging all the others including that right wing would.

The UUP should evolve to take on the responsibility to how we shape the future so we all do well.

A genuinely shared Northern Ireland, great relations across the island and these islands, an inclusive identity, economic prosperity, tackling the issues that are raised by Brexit are just some of the matters to focus on.

It is important that at least one party exists that has as its core belief as to how the Baby that we all have responsibility for prospers.

Trevor Ringland, Holywood