Sooner or later it had to happen. From the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and earlier, working-class loyalism began to see that Ian Paisley’s DUP had nothing to offer them, other than the role of poll-fodder every so often. The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) was formed and high hopes attached to leaders such as David Ervine and Billy Hutchinson.
But then things began to revert to the old ways. David Ervine died suddenly, Billy Hutchinson seemed torn between his old roots in loyalist paramilitarism and engagement in politics. All of which brings us to where we are today – the PUP a shadow of what it might have been, the DUP powerful electorally but with all roads – stay out of Stormont, go back into Stormont – seeming to invite the wrath of the Nolan Show’s daily pundit and TUV leader Jim Allister.
And then there’s Jamie Bryson. I know there are people who go blood-spittingly mad when I mention the appearance of a politician but it still matters. Jamie may be an experienced debater, but there are aspects of his appearance and speech that reduce some nationalists to helpless laughter.
So what’s he saying now? Only that, like an echo of the Skibereen Eagle , he has his eye on the DUP. If they go back into Stormont with the Windsor Framework in place, they’ll be sorry.
“[It woul] Iignite significant instability and, without any doubt, precipitate a return to mass street protests”….”A significant swathe of grassroots unionism/loyalism” would oppose any unionist politician who “opted for the role of collaborator and implementer in the subjugation and suspension of the union”.
Wow. Don’t say Jamie didn’t warn you.
Best result would be for Harris to call the border poll. That would mean Jeffrey could say it was nothing to do with him. The problem is that the state is very reluctant to murder Protestants, so he can jabber away about street protests.
DUP won’t go back to Stormont regardless as long as there is a nationalist FM there. If the DUP won the next election, all concerns about the Windsor Framework would magically disappear.