The UUP’s latest cunning plan to do the deal with the Tories after all - after bizarre talks with the DUP about “Unionist Unity” – raises lots of yes…buts.
For example, Michael McGimpsey (pictured) on Spotlight last night, awkwardly positioned behind a strange Dr Who inspired podium device, implied that the electoral arrangements between the two parties applied only to Westminster elections i.e. did not extend to Assembly elections. I think the Conservatives have a different view.
He also implied that the arrangement could be suspended if he and the rest of the UUP leadership got the impression that the Conservatives were going a bit cold on the Union.
For example if David Cameron were to wake up a few days after becoming Prime Minister and mutter to Samantha, “Hey Sam, I dunno why, but this morning I’m not that hot on the Union,” McGimpsey would be lobbying old Reg to pull out of the arrangements and return the UUP to regional irrelevance.
Also, how is the Westminster candidate carve-up supposed to work? My expectation, when I was on the joint committee, was that there would be a 50/50 split between UUP nominees and Conservative. But I’m sure the UUP will have a different view.
And how will the joint committee ensure that the candidate list reflects all of our community and not just a part of it? Oh and how will the joint committee make a bold statement that this new brand is intent on establishing non-sectarian politics here?
This pact is, as I’m bored typing, chock full of difficulties. The next two weeks are going to be interesting. I look forward to seeing the candidate line-up.
You are just too negative and sceptical. I can understand that but bitterness seems to be coming to the surface.
Well Bryan, if the 3 candidates who withdrew throw their hats back in the ring I’d be a lot happier. At least they’ll keep this process in check to some degree. We need strong Conservatives candidates now more than ever.
I agree totally. But will they?
Now there’s a question Bryan. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Light grey socks!
With a dark suit. Tut, tut.
Jeff,
McGimpsey is correct. The UCUNF pact finishes after the general election is over. Had you attended the recent UUP conference along with all other NI Conservatives you would have heard Willian Hague distinctly saying in his speech that UCUNF was only a pact that involved the Westminster parliament and the Conservative Party has no interest in the workings of the devolved Stormont assembly.
If the DUP sign up to the P & J deal then assembly elections will not be held to 2011/12. There is time then for a new pact/merger between the UUP & DUP to be agreed upon to keep SF from becoming the biggest party in Stormont.
However, in the meantime I hope the three Conservative candidates who stood down change their mind. Only then will we find out how many will be chosen to stand and how many votes they will receive from the NI Electorate.
“and the Conservative Party has no interest in the workings of the devolved Stormont assembly.”
You think that legal? The UK has obligations re: UN etc.
Do we need compliance docs scribbled on the back of a fag packet as per the Scottish Parliament – the Scots disgraced themselves. They also ignored warnings about James Rennie. The PSNI belatedly picking up parts of that cover-up. The PSNI are cute enough to know that in NI nobody is going to care. Child protection is public purse piggery at its most efficient.
Great Britain is broken because of not fit for purposeness, the tories are going to either put it back together, or be the same as the crowd they are replacing.
Also why should it only be the Taliban and US taxpayers who know how many rotary winged aircraft you have in Afghanistan?
Further – also, that part of the UUP leadership saw his vote halved last time I looked.
Sepian
UUP member. Don’t believe a man with light grey socks and, as the editor rightly expanded upon, a dark grey suit.
Second, (sorry for diverting away from this site) but the Conservatives are using the UUP in a political/social experiment as the correspondence between Kane/Trimble (best to look at Bobballs) shows, and this will not stop after the Westminster election. How would/could the Conservatives accept such an agreement? The UUP cannot have it both ways and any way they like. There is either a long-erm arrangement, or not. If not then they should cut a deal with the DUP, take FST and North Down and be thankful that they still have any voters at all.
Awww Jeff you are censoring my posts now… (edited comment)
Cynic – no not censoring your posts but personal attack will not be tolerated. Stick to a debate and your comments will be published – even critical comments. But puerile nonsense and personal attack, of me or others, will not be permitted.
The three that resigned remind me of the People’s Front of Judaea in Life of Brian. See the bigger picture!
Jeff
You clearly don’t understand or like satire. I was pointing out in a humorous way that, from your posts, you seem to be a man for whom life holds endless problems and whose glass is always half empty. This seems to conditions your outlook on life and your analysis of events.
This was not intended as a personal attack but in evaluating what you (or anyone else) writes here one should have reference to where they are coming from and what forces other than rational analysis shape their views and writings. And that does apply to all of us – even me.
Your inability to allow even this criticism is yet a further symptom of this. Frankly I doubt that you will allow this post through either. I don’t care. I shalln’t return. I hope you and yourself have many happy discussions here.