‘Between a rock and a hard place’ by Eamonn MacDermott

You have almost got to feel sorry for the DUP. Here they are having their moment in the sun, holding the balance of power at Westminster, and yet there is something not quite right, the moment is not quite as  euphoric  as it should be. The DUP face several problems in their attempts to reach a deal with the Tories.

Firstly they seem to believe, and this is not the first time this has happened, that they are more important than they really are. They are getting a lesson in how inconsequential Northern Irish politics actual are at Westminster. Certainly the Tories are negotiating with them but it is clear who holds the stronger hand.

The DUP must know that the biggest weakness in their position is that they simply cannot afford not to support the Tories. The alternative for the DUP is simply too ghastly to contemplate. If they withhold their support and the Tories fall, who is to say there won’t be a Labour government?  That would be a disaster for the DUP. So their bargaining position is compromised before they even begin.

Then there is a deeper psychological problem for the unionists. If it is true that they are demanding £2 billion  to be spent on health and infrastructure, they must be quietly wondering to themselves how they could spend that much money without benefitting ‘themuns’ too much. While the DUP talk up the interests of the North, that really is only for consumption across the water. Are we really expected to believe that suddenly the DUP have adopted a position where they want to do the right thing by everyone here? Can’t see it.

One billion pounds for infrastructure poses all sorts of problems for them. I mean there are only so many motorways and by-passes that can be built from Belfast to Bangor, Larne, Newtownards and the like. I suppose they could give a chunk to the bonfire burners in some sort of scheme and maybe a few million to bands. But the real infrastructure deficit is west of the Bann. Do we really think the DUP are going to get an extra billion and spend it there? Hardly likely. They have never shown any inclination in the past so why should the future be any different?

Let’s be honest about it – the DUP for all their protestations give off signals that look more than a bit sectarian. They have never seen themselves as being in government for everyone –  just their own. Now with the Westminster spotlight on them they are trying to present a more liberal front,  but the leopard does not change its spots overnight. To conclude with another creature well-known in these parts: I’m surprised  the DUP didn’t object to being called dinosaurs in Westminster this week: sure dinosaurs never existed in our 6,000 year old world!