Let’s not kid ourselves though, there are some not-so-covert personalities within the DUP itself who are speaking outside the confines of the DUP structures on what they want to happen. No doubt they will have been taking advice and having conversations with this small number of “opinion formers” in a bid to keep pressure on Jeffrey Donaldson to keep him on the straight and narrow. Contrary to what many may think, our Jeff is quite the astute fellow and has no doubt, even before Steve Baker uttered a word, known for quite some time he was in for a rough ride if he wanted to get the DUP back into Stormont.
Those from Sir Jeff’s own party such as Ian Paisley Jnr claimed it could be an “ice age” before Stormont is restored, in which case Ian would be some age and in the ground like his late father. Meanwhile, Sammy Wilson articulated his position on Stormont in his usual fashion blaming everyone but his own party for collapsing Stormont. He claimed Leo Varadkar and the Irish government were to blame for the lack of an executive in NEI. He said – “The demands which the Irish Government and the EU made on the UK Government and which they gave in to have caused the impasse in Northern Ireland. They have destroyed the delicate arrangements that there were balancing government within Northern Ireland. If it is broken it is broken because of him.” Sure, if all else fails, blame the Irish.
The balloon from Donaghadee (the wannabe KC. Yes, that rhymed) decided he would throw his hat in the ring, as if everyone didn’t know he was one of the ‘hardliners’ in question, saying – “Let me tell Steve Baker this – I wear the badge ‘unionist hardliner’ with pride.” That’s great Jamie, but are you elected to speak on behalf of the Unionist people of NEI or are you called Captain 163 for a reason? Really, at this point, the DUP should be ashamed and indeed embarrassed that people like Jamie Bryson are leading them and NEI into oblivion. The statelet is falling apart, being picked apart at the very seams unintentionally by people like Bryson and Allister, and being facilitated by the DUP and unapologetically by personalities such as Ian Paisley Jnr, Sammy Wilson, and Nigel Dodds.
Jeffrey Donaldson is going to have to make a very overt stand against the “hardliners” elected or unelected within Unionism to show he is in charge of the DUP as the largest Unionist party. But wait… there’s more. Some within the DUP have said Jeffrey Donaldson, as much as he may think he is leader of the DUP has less clout than he thinks he has. There are those who would undermine his leadership to keep the DUP out of Stormont, but if it is a small number of hardliners who are set to oppose any move toward the steps of Stormont and an Executive…what does Jeffrey Donaldson have to worry about? Well, that would be the very heavy hitters in the DUP. The likes of Lord Dodds who commands a lot of respect not only within the party but also outside the party and within Unionism and Loyalism in general.
The irony in all of this is that Unionism is pulling itself and NEI apart all by itself without any help from nationalism or republicanism. The RIRA has done nothing at all to bring about a united Ireland. Meanwhile, Jamie Bryson will be remembered as one of Ireland’s greatest sons who brought ‘Northern Ireland’ and Britain to its knees (along with the help of Unionism ironically). The history books will be an interesting read in future years.
If you remember the time the DUP would always say of Sinn Fein they were waiting on the Felons giving them the go ahead you could say the DUP are now waiting on the go ahead from the LCC.
Unionist politicians have always been tied to the unelected mouthpieces who are expected to do the heavy lifting if the proverbial balloon goes up, although I don’t really see Jamie as being much of a street fighter. He is as unlikely to get his hands dirty as Jeffrey or junior.