Both The Guardian and The Times are running stories this morning about Owen Paterson’s tri-partite talks held in Hatfield House earlier in the month.
Both stories suggest that the discussions focused on the creation of a united Unionist party in Northern Ireland politics. In effect Paterson’s ambition was for the UUP and DUP to be absorbed into the Conservative Party. This foolish initiative back-fired badly when the DUP promptly spilled the beans to the media. A couple of the UUP’s more moronic MLAs played neatly into the DUP’s plans and argued the merits of Unionist unity as well.
This ill-conceived plan illustrates the extent of Paterson’s political naivity. He may have learned his lessons from the experience but the learning comes too late. In my view David Cameron needs to act swiftly to restore faith in his Northern Ireland project. He could start by replacing Paterson.
However, the UUP ‘relationship’ is all but dead now. Many UUP supporters of the link with the Conservative Party can show their support by joining the Conservative Party. The Party should put up 18 candidates here at the general election – drawn entirely from its own membership.
And I’m pretty sure that the three excellent candidates who withdrew from the candidate race would throw their hats back in.
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