The UUP continues to have us believe that it would go into Opposition if only it could persuade the UK Government to agree to have one in the NI devolved system. This is a cop out, and it knows it.
The UK Government will agree to no such thing for as long as Nationalists are resolutely opposed to it, and certainly the Conservatives owe the UUP no favours. A predictable U-turn is nigh, with the UUP having opposed the Budget and without its pre-negotiation of the Programme for Government still somehow ending up in the Executive after the election. This is illogical and nonsensical – and it doesn’t need to happen.
What the UUP needs to do, I will repeat, is this simple: if it wants an Opposition, form one! It has already opposed the Budget under which the post-election Executive will operate; it has already said it wants a pre-negotiation of the Programme for Government, which it won’t get; it has already said there needs to be an Opposition. So get on with it!
Nothing would smack of principle more than the UUP saying after the election: “We wanted to negotiate a Programme for Government and to amend the Budget, but the other parties would not do so, therefore we are forming an Opposition to hold them to account”. The media would love it, independent commentators would applaud it, the public would respect it. As discussed before, the SDLP could scarcely remain in the Executive to be battered around if the UUP had unilaterally opted out – doing so would look, blatantly, like simply keep Nationalist seats warm for sectarian reasons rather than a principled determination to deliver better governance.
Forming an Opposition is an internal issue to Northern Ireland, not an external one to trouble Westminster about. It simply needs to be done. Only then can the talk about how it proceeds legally can then begin in earnest. However, without forming an Opposition even having opposed the Budget under which you are operating, there will be no need to have such talk. Without going into Opposition now having made such a fuss about it, the UUP will just go on being battered until the utter pointlessness and futility of its existence overtakes it and the electorate finishes it off.
The UUP won’t do it, of course. It is too sectarian to recognise the value of doing this in the long term even if it means more Nationalists in the Executive in the short term; it is too self-serving for all of its MLAs to do without the trappings of power offered to them; it is too divided to carry through a coherent strategy. But on all of this I would dearly, dearly love to be wrong…
100% spot on. And a few years in opposition might well do the UUP some good. They won’t do something this smart, of course, but it will be fun for the rest of us watching them implode.
Sorry Ian but this is last week’s policy. This week Tom is going into coalition with the DUP to stop Marty becoming First Minister Number 1.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/unionists-consider-pact-to-stop-sinn-feinrsquos-martin-mcguinness-becoming-northern-irelands-next-first-minister-15120259.html
Do keep up!
Sadly the new policy doesnt explain why anyone should vote UUP!
We should maybe thank Fred Cobain for clarifying that that means a single manifesto and a single leader. A single party, in other words.
As it is AFTER the election it would essentially be a joint programme for govt not a ‘manifesto’?
Campaigning against each other only to come together afterwards?
Agreeing to possibily come together after the election to prevent SF First Minister. If that was a voters chief concern it is unclear why it would not be better simply to vote DUP?
Could it be UUP realise they are in free fall and some individuals want to secure Committee Chairmanships via DUP?
ian off topic
the appalling antics of basil mccrea and hisside kick john mccaslister today my reaction and a lot in the party share is is to suspend the pair of them.Perhaps ian you could do a blog about it.?
As it happens, I agree with you – although I agree personally with Basil and John, their comments were entirely indisciplined and, if they think that, they shouldn’t be in the UUP.
However, if I were to do a blog about the UUP right now, I really wouldn’t know where to start…
thanks ian you make a very fair point the pair have to go either they should be suspended or they should get out and leave it would not be tolerated in any other political party.I await the party to take swift action against basil mccrea and john mccallister both mens positions are now untenable in the party.if the party does not take action then it will just show weak leadership
ian i do hope you can blog about todays on air farce i like many are in despair now.There has to be action taken basil mccrea has gone to far this time and some people wont rest up now until he either leaves or is kicked out i for one want basil out of this party like many go and go now basil i think people can see why people didnt want him leder the mans a joke and a wrecker on your way mccrea
I agree actually, I don’t think Basil or John make comfortable Ulster Unionists given the current direction of the party any more than Trevor Ringland or Harry Hamilton.
Of course, you yourself will be canvassing against your own party’s selected candidates. Surely you have to question your own position, on the same basis?
Anyway, as you’ll see, I’ve tried a blog – not easy!
yes i have considered my position i have this evening with it being in effect the start of the assembly elections i have offically resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party my position was untenable and now it frees me up to speak out on information i have had to bite my lips not no more will i i am now outside the party and free to speak out.