With the Westminster election looming there is real and justifiable concern amongst the Unionist electorate that in marginal seats, a split Unionist vote, coupled with apathy, will hand over more seats to Sinn/Fein and fail to maximise the potential to win back one or more seats.Reacting to these concerns, the Orange Order, having just two weeks ago cut its links with the Ulster Unionist Party, has not been slow to use its new found independence in facilitating a meeting between the leaderships of the DUP and the UUP. The talks took place at Schomberg House, the Orange headquarters, a few days ago. They discussed the feasibility of some form of electoral pact. However the talks broke up without progress.
FERMANAGH/SOUTH TYRONE
AND SOUTH BELFAST
It is believed that the DUP’s focus is on a deal over two seats Fermanagh/South Tyrone and South Belfast. The former was won by Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew at the last general election. A single Unionist candidate here would certainly have a chance of winning back the seat. The DUP’s candidate Arlene Foster is one of the group that jumped ship with Jeffrey Donaldson from the UUP. The DUP’s base in the constituency has grown, and Arlene can justifiably claim to be the strongest candidate for Unionism. However, the Ulster Unionists are still bitter about her leaving the party and to date remain unwilling to stand down their candidate, Tom Elliot. Speaking about the issue, Mrs Foster said the UUP was ‘hung up on past conflict with her rather than focused on what was right for the good of Unionism’.
In South Belfast, Martin Smyth has been the Ulster Unionist M.P. for many years and opposed the Belfast Agreement and David Trimble’s leadership. He is now retiring and it seems the DUP are willing to support a single agreed candidate for the constituency.
After a recent poll conducted for BBC Newsnight and the Belfast Telegraph, which put the Ulster Unionists at 16% and the Democratic Unionists at 28%, David Trimble and his devotees seem to be in a state of panic. Consequently they are wanting a much wider electoral pact. Under the guise of what is best for Unionism, but what in reality is a lifeline for himself and his failed policies, Mr Trimble would like all sitting Unionist MPs or their successors to be given a free run. This would eliminate all inter Unionist competition, even in safe Unionist constituencies. Of course this is a denial of democratic choice, and shows the real fear that Trimble and his associates have of losing their own seats to the DUP.
TRIMBLE AND THE SDLP
Incredibly Mr Trimble’s plan also suggests that in four constituencies Unionists should vote for the ‘moderate’ SDLP (or an independent Nationalist in West Tyrone). How dare he suggest that Unionists vote for a party whose ideology is anathema to them! Only this week the leader of the SDLP, Mark Durkan, and his colleagues launched a policy document in Belfast, Newry and Dublin called ‘The Better Way’. It was followed in Dublin by an event at the Mansion House for all Irish political parties. The document outlined the way forward for a United Ireland using the Belfast Agreement as the basis for a devolved Stormont Assembly under the jurisdiction of Dublin and not London. This, and the statement by the SDLP that they are the true Republicans, should come as no surprise to any Unionist with an ounce of commonsense!
DR PAISLEY
Meanwhile the DUP has produced a new policy document, ‘Moving On’ which puts any resumption of talks with the British and Irish Governments about Sinn Fein in Government completely off the agenda until the IRA has gone out of existence. In an article in the News Letter Dr Paisley is quoted as saying, ‘Inclusive, mandatory coalition government which includes Sinn Fein, under d'Hordt or any other system, is out of the question’.
There is no doubt the forthcoming elections are as crucial as any in Northern Ireland’s history. God’s people need to be on their knees much for this little Province
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. (Proverbs 16:20)
