Confusion is one Thing. The DUP is Another.

Hasn’t Sir Jeff gotten himself into a bit of a pickle?  Whether as the leader of the largest Unionist party or the supposed leader of Unionism in general, he’s really messed things up in the past couple of weeks and completely confused everyone, not only in his electorate but also in the wider public arena.  With copious amounts of smoke and mirrors added for good measure, we went from not knowing that the British government was done with talking about the Irish Sea Border to telling the media “progress has been made” in non-existent talks while all other NEI political leaders were clearly of the impression no progress was made at all.

Jeff is a contemplative soul, not one to run headlong into a decision without first scouting around the edges and finding out what he’s really dealing with.  The issue for Jeff now is his contemplation has become so lengthy that it is being viewed by many, including the British government as a weakness…and they’d be right.  While many within Unionism would like nothing more than to hold out for the death of the Windsor Framework (which ain’t going to happen) there is a growing number within not only political Unionism but also wider Loyalism who are quietly calling for the DUP to get back into Stormont and sort out this ungodly mess the DUP has dropped NEI into regarding education, health, and public services.

While some may say these things were issues before the DUP walked out of Stormont, there can be no mistaking the fact that they have been made infinitely worse by the fact the DUP is halting any decisions being made by elected representatives from any of the parties, who, by the way, equally have mandates to make NEI work.  After all, isn’t that what the ‘D’ in DUP stands for?  Isn’t democracy Unionist style a wonderful thing? No, that’s not a trick question. Just look at the past in NEI and answer it.

There was a crunch meeting last Friday of the DUP Officer Board which was supposed to be a ‘Yay or Nay’ moment for the DUP.  To go back into Stormont or not.  This information was leaked to the media by a powerful high-level source from within the DUP which is where all this confusion started.  Since then it has been reported that this was false information and it was neither a Yay or Nay meeting nor was it crunchy.  What it does tell us, however, is that someone is lying and someone within the DUP is trying to scupper plans to reform Stormont.  What the high-level source also divulged was that the deal Sir Jeff has on the table relinquishes nothing in the Windsor Framework which means, for the DUP the last 2 years have accomplished nothing substantial other than bringing NEI and the public services to their knees.

There are two elements in the background and whispering in Jeffrey Donalson’s ear which are not to be underestimated, no matter how clown-like they may seem.  One is Jim Allister and the other is Jamie Bryson.  As Pat McArt said to me – “How did a guy who got 167 votes when he stood for election get to hold such influence? Why is he allowed to hold that influence?”  Well, he seems to be a mouthpiece for certain ‘stakeholders’ but one dare not utter their group for fear of legal action by Mr. Bryson.

As for Jim Allister, he will no doubt stand to gain any members or indeed MLAs or MPs who might move away from the DUP if Sir. Jeff marches his troops back up the hill without bringing the rest of Loyalism and Unionism with him so Jeff is Jim’s best friend when he’s behaving like a good little boy and doing Jim’s bidding.  When he’s not, Jim goes on the attack and labels Jeff, indirectly, a traitor.  Talk about puppets.

Either way, the time is rapidly approaching when the DUP and Jeffrey Donaldson will have to make a move.  It should have been last Friday but Jeff got spooked by the leak.  It’s said Jeffrey Donaldson has the numbers within his party to go back into Stormont but having backed Unionism into a corner of its own making, can the DUP persuade its electorate to fall in behind it?  That is the bigger job of work…as politicians like to say.