Unionism has produced many able figures over the years; whatever you may think of him, Sir Edward Carson was an astute and articulate leader with the charisma and energy to achieve anything. He could have easily been the Prime Minister or President of an independent Ireland, where the Unionist people would have much sway in the power game. One of the qualities of Unionist politicians, despite their flaws, is that you are never in any doubt where they stand on things; they say what they mean and mean what they say – which is more than what you get from most in the benches at Westminster or the Dail. You can oppose many of their views, but there’s no need to be petty or insulting – everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
After Partition, the former Grand Master of the Orange Order and Southern Unionist, Colonel Edward Saunderson, said with tears in his eyes “now I have no country.” The Unionist people were divided by an artificial border, depriving them of one another and the potential to lead as one political unit on this island. Some of them had charisma flowing from their baby fingers. Sammy Wilson, whatever you think of him, was easily the most suited and able person to be Finance Minister; an economics teacher and chief examiner by profession. That is acknowledged across the floor of the Assembly. But another figure who stands out is Ballysillan’s own Nelson McCausland. Now again I say, whatever you think of his views or record, the man himself is a genuine intellectual. In fact he is the most knowledgeable and articulate Unionist of them all. An Oxford graduate in physics, he worked as a teacher in Ballygomartin Boy’s School prior to his political career.
While Social Development Minister, he was tasked with the most difficult of things – to negotiate concessions from the Tories regarding welfare reform. This was the issue which almost brought the Assembly to breaking point. For months, he liaised and negotiated strenuously with Lord Freud and Ian Duncan Smith, to gain as many protections for welfare recipients as possible, knowing that a failure to deliver meant the collapse of power-sharing. That’s a fact. We still have the most generous welfare system in comparison to Britain, even though I think it isn’t funded enough. And when he returned from tense negotiations in London, he received a round of applause in the Assembly across the floor of the house for what was a seriously dedicated effort to get the best deal he could. It’s right to give him credit for that.
Mr McCausland is not a neo-liberal; he’s a Keynesian and one of the few Unionist politicians here who would make it onto the front bench at Westminster. He’s an Ulster-Scot culturally and a proud Orangeman; with an unmatched knowledge of local history. Additionally, he adheres to the non-conformist Protestant tradition, which influences his beliefs. And you’re never in any doubt about what he believes; he is direct and speaks his mind when others do not. Tony Benn once said that the only people worth listening to, however much you disagree with them, are those who do just that.
Despite not getting re-elected in the recent election, after the boundary changes, I seriously doubt that Nelson will ever depart politics or retire. He lives and breathes it. I agree with the analysis of the North Belfast News that you cannot seriously rule Nelson McCausland out. Unlike many other Unionists, he has no issue or hesitation in debating his case for the Union to nationalist audiences or people on the Left.
But the crux of what I’m getting at is this – Anytime I read his column in the Belfast Telegraph I am reminded of Colonel Saunderson’s sentiments and a lasting thought by Patrick Pearse; that the Orangemen would be better off as an influential bloc within an Irish government that respects them as opposed to being on the periphery of a British Parliament which ignores them. Nelson, with his quantitative mind and ability to communicate economic theory into policy, could serve the whole of this island (and Ulster particularly) as a Minister in a sovereign Irish government; guaranteeing his people/tradition not just religious safeguards but substantial economic subvention and funding. He could have the Orange Institution included and funded as an integral part of the Irish nation in a real green, white and orange republican constitution. And with influence over the economic levers of power in a sovereign government, he could apply the radical Protestant conscience in eliminating poverty from this island altogether. If an Irish government got into a confrontation with the EU over its finances, the strongest card to play in any negotiations would include Unionist leaders, who can argue it out until the sun comes arising. Protestants in Ireland are not a powerless lot; they are the stuff of Yeats, of Parnell, of Carson, of Hyde, of Craig, of Tone and of Casement. Whatever you think of him, you can’t rule Nelson McCausland out. I have no problem expressing admiration for some of the talents of other individuals, whatever my disagreements with their political beliefs – when I walk past the Shankill Road I acknowledge that, whatever their identity, they are our people too and our destiny on this island is tied up with theirs. If we are to build a real Irish republic, we need to embrace the Orange as well as the Green as ‘One Nation’.
I can’t agree with the idea that Nelson McCausland is a genuine intellectual at all. A great case is being made that he is an Oxford graduate in physics and for his facility, his ability and his work as a teacher .He may have passed a series of exams and accumulated a certain breadth of knowledge in a specific field ,just as Sammy Wilson has also .They might well be intelligent human -beings , more highly tuned than some of their fellows and less-so than so many others , but to refer to either of them as” intellectual “is something of an oxymoron, It sets the bar very low . To put them up there with Einstein or Bertrand Russell is frankly absurd.They may have a certain span of knowledge useful and in some way related to their political careers ; they may have many qualities and may be able to communicate that with excellent , above average communication skills ,but the very fact that they are deeply embedded into a political and religious culture which is anathama to any intellectual understanding of the world paints the real picture of these men. The seedbase is blatantly anti-intellectual and everything I have ever heard these two men emote in public parlance leaves me in no real doubt .Like I say we set our own sights too low in this place and seem to expect and are satisfied with very little .
Here here…great reply. Jude you can’t be serious.
You mean ‘Donal’, I presume, Joe?
From Oxford physics graduate to school teacher. Not demeaning teachers but from oxford to school teacher is not great progress!
Maybe he wasn’t interested in making money but wanted to do something he liked. Teaching is one of the most important careers.
It is a well recognised fact that achievements in formal education are not in themselves any real indicators of intelligence. Rather, the modern leaders of Irish republicanism,such as Mc Guinness, Adams and others,who for various reasons have no such achievements to their name, are proof of the converse – that intelligence is an innate quality not defined by educational achievement. Instead. it is the sum total of an individual’s capacity to analyse in a coherent way a broad spectrum of life- situations, and having done that to provide workable and sensible solutions. Viewed In this way, it is paradoxical to describe as either intelligent or intellectual people who lack the capacity to see the validity of points of view other than their own – even if they don’t agree with them. No leader of modern unionism, including in particular both Mc Causland and Wilson,has shown the faintest signs of that ability. Which is why political unionism is doomed to extinction unless it can produce intelligent leadership. How people like them could play a constructive role in a new Ireland is hard to imagine.
Nelson McCausland an intellectual ? I don’t think so.
Everyone is born with intelligence ….but using your intelligence and using your intellect are completely different things ,intellect involves complex reasoning , something todays Unionism seems to lack .I wouldn’t equate intellect with bigotry ,sectarianism ,racism etc or the wish to dominate and subjugate another human being .In Carson and Paisley ,Unionism had orators…great public speakers able to captivate any audience , but they preyed on people …..on their fears , their base instincts….they were intelligent but not intellectuals …In the same way both McCausland and Wilson are intelligent but neither intellectual nor reasoning people. We want and need Unionism’s contribution for a New Ireland but these two people are not of the caliber necessary.
So Committee member mc causland negotiated with the tories to gain concessions concerning welfare reform? Mmmm I thought the shinners were the ones who ‘ensured the most vulnerable in our community were protected’? They must’ve told Nelson what to do I guess.
Wolfe tone, Are you referring to the book The Committee? Ironically, I am re reading at the moment. McCausland may be book smart in physics, but he lacks empathy and compassion, two items I consider crucial for being an ‘intellectual’
Hi Donal, afraid I must repeat what I have said before which is an amendment of the old adage , those who can, do, those who can’t, teach…..those who can’t teach go into politics.
…and of course there have been many really excellent teachers who would never claim to be intellectuals .
I’m a little biased here, but teaching is a demanding and rewarding career than most people don’t respect out of ignorance. Our society places prestige and money before education, hence the low opinion of teachers. I have seen very successful businessmen, managers, lawyers and various other professionals try the move to teaching and fail dismally.
Nelson McCausland, the intellectual – you must be joking!
He was the minister who met Turkington Windows of Lurgan for official discussions, knowing they were large DUP benefactors.
When asked about it, he insisted he had not known who he was talking to, but thought he had been talking to the Glass and Glazing Federation.
He also awarded house maintenance contracts to Red Sky, a UDA backed company, despite numerous complaints at an official level about the standard of their work, and work claimed as done, but not done.
Was it his brass neck or his intellect that made him think we were eejit enough to believe him?
Donal, such tripe removes you from my list of authors/bloggers!
Nelson is a buffoon. Period.
I find it challenging to consider Nelson as an intellect when in a pre-election interview he abandoned intellectual argument when asked why exit the EU. Instead he stated he didn’t need any reason but just wanted out. WTF! He may get his wish but if a politician, with an apparent background in social welfare, cannot provide a rehearsed Brexit justification then a return to teaching and away from the sharp witted world of politics may be the smarter career path.
The thing keeping Nelson back is the very thing that dominates his life. The Orange Order. If he wasn’t a member of that bigoted anti Catholic anti Irish organisation he might have a chance. Until England becomes a secular country people like Nelson will always hold those outdated views.
An education should not be equated with intelligence.
Just look at some of the obtuse politicians, throughout the world.
Nelson: the intellectual who believes the earth is only 5,000 years old and Dinosaurs don’t exist
Antonio
How is that any different from believing that Jesus died and came back to life, or that bread and wine physically change into blood and flesh, or that a 1 day old foetus has something called a soul, or the existence of heaven and hell, angels and demons etc?
It’s all a bit silly isn’t it?