There has clearly been a not so well-hidden split in the DUP. I’m not so sure the word ‘split’ is adequate to describe how massive this split actually is as it seems larger and more damaging than what many had surmised prior to the recent ‘election’ of Edwin Poots as leader of the DUP. Some might say those who were stood down from their roles for someone of Edwin Poots’ choosing, had been removed from those roles because they performed poorly in those roles. For instance, Peter Weir, from the beginning of his tenure as Education Minister has been under constant scrutiny for the mess he made of exams with erroneous grants from the Department of the Economy under Diane Dodds being equally as damaging to the DUP. In reality, these two people as well as the rest of the Executive were operating under immense pressure due to the circumstances dictated by the Covid pandemic.
No, Diane Dodds and Peter Weir were staunch supporters of Arlene Foster and have voiced that opinion on many an occasion and with Arlene Foster beginning to take a softer view of the Executive and possibly willing to go against hard-line party policy whilst maintaining her Unionism, could it be that Arlene Foster’s DUP was slowly attempting to make ‘Northern Ireland’ work? We’ll probably never know, unless she pens a book (hint hint). What is apparent is that there is huge discontent within the DUP at the treatment of Arlene Foster. In fact, Arlene describes herself as having been “taken out”, in almost a political assassination of types and I can’t help but think that one person was the instigator of that political assassination – that being Edwin Poots.
Arlene Foster, Diane Dodds, Peter Weir – all removed from their roles with Arlene Foster and Emma Little-Pengelly both leaving the party. Glyn Hanna, Kathryn Owen, Diane Forsythe, Roberta McNally, numerous members of the South Down association all resigning from Councils and roles, with many more members and politicians within the party deeply unhappy and still seething at not only the way Arlene Foster was removed but also, more importantly, at how Edwin Poots was ‘installed’ by not only some within the party but also the fact there was UDA intimidation of people within Jeffrey Donaldson’s campaign team and within the party itself. As I write this, I find myself shaking my head looking at these words because while Arlene Foster did indeed meet the LCC and by extension Loyalist paramilitaries, she also had no problem denouncing them, which is more than can be said for Edwin Poots. In fact, if goings on are to be believed the UDA attempted to, if not actually secured Edwin Poots’ victory as leader of the largest Unionist party in the North.
I find it slightly ironic and honestly laughable, that today Unionists are still talking about ye olde “Sinn Fein/IRA” and how people like Jim Allister still call Sinn Fein “terrorists” while seemingly having no problem with the UDA installing the latest leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. Unionists will openly accept the council of three Loyalist terrorist groups, and make no mistake, Jim Allister has met them too, he just doesn’t publicise the fact but they still hate the fact that Sinn Fein was able to successfully make the transition from “violent Republicanism” to peace makers. Martin McGuinness is a prime example of this.
That is what Loyalism must do if political Unionism wants to be taken seriously. When Edwin Poots meets the LCC it should be remembered, ultimately, they helped put him there. When there is violence over the NI Protocol as Billy Hutchinson suggested there will be, it will be the three groups the LCC represents who will be running that show, whether they admit it or not. Unionism is in utter, unequivocal flux and because they wanted Brexit, they wanted that border put back across Ireland and because they got what they wanted, because Unionist politicians gave them what they wanted, against the wishes of the people of the North of Ireland…they’re falling apart.
Oh the irony in that old Loyalist saying “United we stand, divided we fall.” At this point, Unionism had better start praying for all they’re worth for a soft landing.
Comments are closed.