As repeatedly trailed, I’m turning my attention to David Gordon’s chronicling of the demise of the Paisley family: The Fall of the House of Paisley.
The book was completed and published prior to Junior’s election as an MP – but the version I read had an extra chapter detailing the downfall of the Robinsons. However it was published too early to document the (wonderful) defeat in the general election of Peter Robinson – in East Belfast – by Naomi Long. The returning officer’s announcement of Robinson’s defeat was a moment to be cherished in the wee small hours on election night.
Gordon, however, meticulously documents other choice moments in revisionist DUP politicking and moralising over the last decades. He shines a very bright light on the bizarre definitions that both Paisley Senior and Junior have developed – in the absence of any real-world experience of doing anything other than sectarian politics, Ulster-style.
For example the Paisley definition of ‘entrepreneur’ seems to that of ‘property developer’. Instead of warning against the excesses and greed that were evident as Northern Ireland’s property market went wild – the Paisleys seemed to prefer rubbing shoulders with property developers like Seymour Sweeney whose ambitions knew no bounds. They seemed to believe that building shops and retail premises and pubs was what Northern Ireland’s economy really needed. In short, forget the need for skills development, innovation, or entire root-and-branch restructuring of our public sector dependent economy.
Property developers were seen by the Paisleys as in some way representative of the new Northern Ireland. They had the attributes of alchemist about them. And the Paisleys turned a blind eye to the fact that many of the most successful property developers (cum DUP supporters) often dabbled in the booze business.
From the pulpit Paisley Senior warned of the perils of the devil’s vomit. However, Junior appeared to want nothing to stand in the way of his favourite property developer’s grandest plans – even if they did revolve around the opening of licensed premises in the unlikeliest of places on Ulster’s North Coast.
The Sweeney shenanigans are detailed at length in Gordon’s book. When laid back to back they seem all the more remarkable. Moreover, I must admit, I hadn’t fully appreciated at the time just to what extent Sweeney was involved in the palatial Ballymena constituency office debacle – where public money was squandered to provide ludicrously over-the-top premises to the entire Paisley ego-machine.
Gordon also does a great job examining the dramatic conversion of Paisley Snr from the fire and brimstone, Papist-loathing ranter, to Chuckle Brother. Gordon admits that he can offer no satisfactory explanation as to why the conversion took place. Perhaps it was an attempt by the ‘big man’ to secure a place in heaven. And perhaps that explanation is a correct one – given Paisley Senior’s continued references to a biblical rationale for his public chuckling with Martin McGuinness. In effect, he was smiling and chuckling in the face of his critics – all of whom, he claimed, were doing the devil’s work.
This book does a great job in articulating how family Paisley has manipulated public opinion, and even the word of the Lord, to suit itself. The book also shows Northern Ireland as little more than a Banana Republic without bananas. Gordon chronicles just how stunted and ridiculous Northern Ireland’s politics and politicians have become in the sectarian back-water that they have helped create.
jeffery you quote the alliance party perhaps its time jeff for conservatives to team up with the alliance party.I read the deal with the uup is over.?
An enjoyable review Jeff. Highly amusing and somewhat gleeful! I can see you enjoyed the day after the night before at Mr Robinsons expense.
I enjoyed reading the Moloney/Pollok biograghy some years ago which I would recommend to you. It may be very dated now but a very worthwhile hatchet job!
royston, the thing that attracts me to this blog is Jeffs desire to see normal and real politics in this part of the world, moving away from orange and green, focusing instead on left and right, the alliance party are as big a part of the problem as the DUP and UUP.
They too, are a single issue sectarian party. Instead of introducing POLICY the instead define themselves as the party of BOTH green and orange.
Although they at the time had no westminster representation there was still not a peep from the Alliance surrounding the Digital Economy Act, yet they managed to voice their opinion on the Abortion debate… interesting…
Joel, well said.
And the alternative jeffery is what a new party.?
Royston…alternative? The Conservative Party is organised here. It’s time it, along with Labour, sought a mandate to govern. That’s no less than voters in every part of the UK expect from parties that aspire to form a government.
What is the alternative then joel the conservatives here are going no where.?
joel but the conservatives have failed here and jeffery has being part of that failure so how can the conservative way be the right way if its failed.
Royston,
To come to my defence I wasn’t part of any failure. I was fired by the Conservative Party as a democratically elected officer – a year before the general election – for expressing my opposition to the deal with the UUP. Suggest you brush up on your facts.
Unionist politicians swimming against a secular tide
By David Gordon Saturday, 4 September 2010
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/unionist-politicians-swimming-against-a-secular-tide-14933899.html#ixzz0ycj4olST
Rubbish! What’s wrong with being a cross community party!
damien you are right what is wrong with a cross community party like the alliance the conservatives have failed there new home ought to be the alliance.
jeffery I see your points however now the link beween the uup and the conservatives is over why are you now not re joining.
Thanks for that posting UUP Member.
Unionism needs to get with it. Drag itself into the 21st Century. The voters are sooner or later going to leave them behind. Though its remarkable that the DUP isn’t shedding more votes too.
Maybe because people feel they have no where else to go.
I see an upsurge in Alliance coming if the Conservatives don’t present themselves as a real and viable alternative. Thankfully I see that at last happening.
These politicians that find it necessary to moralise and be non-inclusive of all sections of society including gay people are archaic dinasaurs who really do need a thrashing at the polls.
you see what at last the conservatives taking off here no chance if the conservatives are in coalition on the mainland with the lib dems.Then why are the conservative here not in some sort of coalition with alliance.I think alliance will do very well next year taking votes from right across the community.
I think you may be right Alliance may do well next year but anybody idea what their policies are other than we aren’t like the rest?!
why dont to join alliance help shape plicies its no good sitting on the sidlines talking in a party .ie the conservatives here who have never got anywhere and never will.
Royston, OK so I’m publishing your comments but could I ask that you take a little more care over your use of English? Your sentences are becoming so sloppy they are verging on meaningless.
royston I see the Conservatives getting their act together now they have the unfettered influence of the rudderless baffoons in the UUP. Its amazing what passes for a political party here. Take for example Ian Duncan Smiths social justice presentation here last week. It took a mainland party to produce something that good instead of these mickey mouse imitations!
The conservatives over the years have done nothing here even on jeffery peels watch the electoral performances were woeful.So any suggestion that the conservatives here are getting there act together here is utter nonesense.
Seeing as Basil McCrea has criticised Tom Elliot’s remarks regarding the fact that he(Tom) had no intention of attending a GAAA or Gay Pride event and that Basil has attended such an event, what would your view be on him becoming UUP leader?
To be fair to Tom (not like me, I admit) I’m not sure I’d choose to attend a GAA match or gay pride event either. But nor would I want to attend an Orange march or watch Northern Ireland play Slovenia. I just have zero interest in doing such things and to say otherwise would be hypocritical.
We’re all too obsessed with tit for tat politically correct point scoring now that we’re in the “New Northern Ireland”. Sooner or later we’ll move on from this obsession with the politically banal and focus on issues that matter in the real world.
Jeff, I think you’ve raised an important point there. There is an all-too-human tendency today (resulting I think from celebrity culture) to deify political leaders and expect them to play a social leadership role. I think politicians have a very specific remit and I don’t think it’s their duty to go to religious services or cultural events, at least in a political capacity.
Ironically, and you mightn’t like me saying this, but your views strike me as very republican, in the original French sense of that term.
Shane, yes I’d tend to agree with you on all the points you make here.
So I take it you think there are too many Mark Durkan’s,Jeffrey Donaldson’s and William McCrea’s in Northern Irish politics!
Damien, I think our political class has done very little to undermine the most glaring and disgraceful problem of Northern Ireland – an obsession with what divides us rather than what defines our common humanity. There is an obsession with the trivia of “identity”, “culture” and “faith” that – increasingly – bores the electorate witless. Our constitutional position within the United Kingdom will continue for decades. Therefore all politicians have a moral obligation to move on and to define what they stand for on the basis of policy positions rather than tribal posturing. However, our local political parties are indoctrinated into a two-tribe mentality.
Royston you asked why would I not join Alliance.
Although you may think the NI Conservatives are on the outside of the political spectrum here what gaurantee have you that that will always be the case?
Remaining permanently on the edge of the union would concern me more that is what is perpetually gauranteed belonging to a local party.
I’d much rather belong to a party which actually governs the state to which I belong. Why do you limit yourself so?
I take it you’re happy that Peter Tatchell is doing a hatchet job in his documentary about Pope Benedict then again you are an atheist!
Thank you jeffery for publishing my comments my sentences are not sloppy either I have only stated the truth that conservatives have done nothing here and there electoral performances even under your watch were woeful.I have learning problems yes why are you so cruel in your comments thats both nasty and un called for.I think you can dish it out it seems jeffery but you cannot handle the truth when the facts are presented to you.
Royston, I take your point. The Conservatives have performed very badly. But, remember, the Party in London has never really given local Conservatives any financial support (except when they did a deal with the Utterly Useless Party). However, the DUP and Sinn Fein get lots of votes – but that doesn’t make them more worthy. I’m proud to have been associated with a Party no-one voted for. The politics of populism leave me cold. At least I have principles.
But, believe me, when principles and popularity come together – then that is exciting. I’m prepared to wait.
I take it you would spar with Eileen Paisley(Ian’s)wife because she upholds the right to life of unborn children when she says that those taking part in abortions are emulating Herod!