Ramblings about politics, secularism and stuff
I had the pleasure to introduce David Cameron when he did his first Cameron Direct event in Belfast back in November.
In the latest election broadcast he shows just how effective he can be in this type of “town hall” meeting. Although the Belfast event was held at the Stormont Hotel. Nevertheless – the format was the same – no screened questions, shooting from the hip and very direct.
If you want to watch the Belfast Cameron Direct (introduced by yours truly) it’s here.
Andrew Charles over on Slugger is doing a good job stoking up the debate as to whether UCUNF is just the Alliance Party in drag. There are several hot trails on the subject – and this is merely the latest.
My hope was that in developing a relationship with the UUP the Conservative Party could make all the UUP baggage go away – and create a non-sectarian force that could articulate some real policy positions and aspire to government. Instead it’s merely the UUP repainted.
Meanwhile the Alliance Party has singularly failed to take an ideological position on anything and its failure to marry the Lib Dems is a problem in a UK political context. It means that we still do not have any real UK political brands on offer here.
At the heart of the issue we need to ask, “What does the Alliance Party stand for?” I, for one, am not absolutely sure. Niceness? Possibly. But that’s not enough in politics. There’s no ideological position in niceness. Policies don’t emerge from being nice.
Before the ‘deal’ with the UUP the Conservative Party here at least stood for something. It was clearly the Conservative Party – no ifs or buts. But now its brand is sullied and weakened by an association with the UUP. Jim Nicholson’s election posters don’t even feature the Conservative logo. Plus, as has been pointed out, he’s been an MEP for 20 odd years – what kind of change is that?
Fundamentally, I’m bitterly disappointed that the Conservative Party couldn’t have done what it should always have done – i.e. seek a mandate to govern every part of the United Kingdom. Why has a deal with the UUP been required for the Party to show resolve and determination to win a mandate here? It has had 20 years to invest money into Northern Ireland and switch on an election machine.
UCUNF is not the Alliance Party – but nor is it the Conservative Party. That is the terrible pity about the situation.
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