So the UUP’s Doug Beattie figures that “People should not buy the DUP snake-oil at this election”. Doug is referring to the DUP leader Arlene Foster’s insistence that her party and Sinn Féin are neck-and-neck, so it’s absolutely vital that all unionists vote DUP to keep this appalling vista off- screen.
Doug, unsurprisingly, claims that the re-election of the DUP and Sinn Féin will simply result in “more scandal, more failure and Northern Ireland on a downward spiral of despair”. Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?
Frightening unionist voters into voting to keep bogeymen out? It’s hardly a new unionist strategy. Lord Brookeborough led the way, telling the unionist electorate that he “would not have one about the place”. The ‘one’ of course being a Catholic/Nationalist. Jim Molyneaux, the former leader of Doug’s UUP, warned that the IRA’s ceasefire marked the most dangerous of situations for unionism (that is, them pesky nationalists/republicans could start making political headway). And of course Rev Ian Paisley based his career on fear: fear of the priest-ridden south of Ireland, fear of Sinn Féin, fear of Maggie Thatcher, fear of fear itself. So no, Doug, don’t be pretending this is a new thing. Unionism has used it effectively since this NE nest was constructed.
But there is one thing Doug is right about. There is a possibility that a new Executive of the DUP and Sinn Féin could result in “more scandal, more failure and Northern Ireland on a downward spiral of despair”, even if he’s saying it for UUP political advantage. As a number of Sinn Féin politicians have stated, there can be no going back to the old way of doing things, where the DUP paraded its credentials by being contemptuous of nationalists/republicans and all things Irish, not to mention the various financial scandals such as Red Sky, NAMA and RHI.
Sinn Féin will have to stand by those statements. The policy of continually turning the other cheek in the face of DUP arrogance hasn’t worked. It’s had nearly twenty years to prove itself and we can see where it’s got us.
There is no doubt that local rule is more desirable than Westminster rule, for the simple reason that local rule is done by accountable Irish politicians, while Westminster rule is done by English politicians who don’t depend on us for a single vote. But somehow, unionist politicians must be made to see that respect, equality and financial probity cannot continue to be ducked. Either the DUP has a massive conversion or we should kiss goodbye to local rule.
Oh, and you see that stuff Mike Nesbitt goes over about willingly working with nationalists/republicans? I’m assuming the intelligent people who read this blog won’t believe a half-syllable of his claim.
“Unionism has used it effectively since this NE nest was constructed.”
And long before that – “Home Rule is Rome Rule”
And let’s not forget project fear in Scotland. Unionism it would seem feeds on fear like a Fermanagh boiler feeding on wood pellets.
WAS HUMPHERY ATKINS a BOGEY MAN?
The reason why Southern Yunes like UUP
Is b-coz it rhymes with their fav sip : soup
(Which dog, say
Is Doug’s , btw ?)
SF are just a war whoop away from a coup.
Seems to William McGonagall Award time Perkin
On Stormont hill
There stood Arlene
She must be gone
Cos she can’t be seen ..??
Perhaps at home she sits
And sips
Her tea
And warms her toes
With burning chips
Of wood ..!!
PSF canvassers round recently. I tried to pin them down on their red lines. No luck, so I told them what my red lines would be if they ever wanted my vote again. After this ‘watershed’ election,i.e.
I don’t think red lines are a good idea.
The DUP have said clearly that there will never be an Irish Language Act.
How can they bridge this with people in the nationalist community who want one?
It is back to the not an inch, no surrender, never never never politics. We will always walk drumcree is one sticks in my mind. The indefinite flag protest at twadell.
There is a lot to be said for their positive attitude. It is contagious
Maybe another name for red lines is principles. I do not expect PSF to show their hand before the fudge – sorry, negotiations start – but I have nothing to lose by showing them mine.
Absolutely, I agree completely fiosrach, we all need to speak up.
Ah, God love the DUPpies and their penchant for embroiling themselves in the cacs, possibly, maybe even definitely, lying to those who pay their wages.
If they were Catholic, at least they could head to Church, kneel, do the ‘Forgive me Father’ routine and become absolved, following the requisite penance.
Unfortunately, unless the unionist electorate actually can see pierce the veil of puff they have been told and vote for their own best interests, we are likely to have Arlene back as Phriom Aire, a new leas Phriom Aire and the same old, same old, unless of course, Michelle is actually a woman of her word and refuses return to government unless, and until, the honoring of the promises contained in the Good Friday Agreement, or six counties Act (1998) vis. equality for all of us, including, actually using the, expensive, administration structure in English St. Armagh, of the N-S Ministerial Council, ignored by the DUP, and Irish Governments, a clear breach of Sec. 16 (4) of the above Act.
Jessica, on the DUP, and if Mike got back, he’d oppose it’s introduction too, the Irish Language Act, agreed by the parties at St. Andrews, the DUP, seemingly by their own admission, realise they will not be in prime place for much longer, time for peace, time to go and, take your narrow minded opinions on equality with you.
p.s. I remember Drumcree but my favorite was always Obins St.
“if Mike got back, he’d oppose it’s introduction too”
Of course he would Mark.
The same person who sent out the leaflets that caused the alliance party so much grief, that triggered the flag protests and wasted as much money over flags as the RHI scandal he is now criticising the DUP over.
Multi faced Mike. His TV charm wont save him this time and the nationalist community will not be as easily fooled as Dominic and his SDLP supporters would like to believe.
As for Drumcree, that was a poisonous period to be working in Portadown and I will never forget seeing them baton my friends off the road.
I agree, those who are unable to accept Irish anywhere on this island, would be best leaving it.
I thing we need to move on power sharing is over let’s get on with the final solution an all lreland
Afraid it’s been fifteen years since we had one.
You are absolutely right Mark
But Brexit has changed everything, though I am not sure if it is for the right reasons.