EXCLUSIVE
Just a few days after the (re)launch of the NI Conservatives a leading member of the local Party has resigned. John Lund has forwarded me a copy of his resignation letter sent to the local Conservative leadership, copied to Emma Pidding, Chairman of the National Convention of the Conservative Party.
In his letter John makes clear that he fails to understand the new NI Conservatives grouping and questions the constitutional basis of it – in the absence of any membership vote to dissolve the existing Conservatives in NI. He also hints that the NIO may attempt to exert undue influence on the NI Conservatives. Indeed he suggests that the NIO is likely to suppress the development of the local Party.
John Lund was actively involved in the attempts to create a new centre-right grouping – drawing members from both the UUP and Conservatives. Indeed the move was publicised on the Conservative NI site in December. Now it appears that irreconcilable differences have caused John to resign.
This does not augur well for the future of the new, supposedly revamped, local Conservatives.
Who is John Lund?
Who is Ian Parsley?
You chose to make a story out of someone called John Lund, apparently a leading figure.
So, who is he?
And you, Ian, make a story out of Ian Parsley. Who are you?
John Lund = a right wing politico within the UUP (Lagan Valley branch) who received a six month suspension on the eve of the UUP conference in 2010, and soon moved over to the Conservatives NI; used to help arrange charity dinners etc for the SoS (to do with his horseback adventure); and now John has resigned from the Torys. And he has a black spot on Slugger.
Alan, John and I were involved in the Campaign for Equal Citizenship in the 80s and then the earliest moves to have the Conservatives organise in Northern Ireland. John joined the UUP when the Tories, nationally, lost their way. However, he rejoined and has been heavily involved in the ‘Way Forward’ group – focused on creating a new Centre-Right progressive Conservative group. He’s a blunt talking Yorkshireman. Like me he’s an avid proponent of secular politics for Northern Ireland. In terms of his social positions he would tend to be very progressive – something which makes typical UUP members very uneasy.
I know John Lund. He is certainly one of the more enlightened political activists to have been associated with either the Conservatives or the Ulster Unionists.
Unfortunately, the more enlightened you become, the harder it is to tolerate the the vacuity and ineffectiveness that has been the hallmark of the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland since the General Election.
To be fair Seymour there has been much vacuity and ineffectiveness in Conservatism in GB as well. The NICs launch timing was awful: Leveson, terrible poll ratings, the DUPs and the Tories getting ever closer, the supine coalition, growing voter apathy in all politics. Plus the terrible namby pamby messaging of the relaunch. I have some sympathy but it’s just a pity that Irwin didn’t attempt to draw in some of the talent he might have had available had he asked.
Hate, hate, hate this NICs thing. To me, as to many others, it is National Insurance Contributions. Will you all get off the ‘initials’ fence please!
At least it doesn’t have “New Force” in it.
To comment further would be to diss DC!!!
It’s unbelievably rich of Ian Parsley to come on here and talk about contradictory statements with the amount of somersaults he has done in the past 2 years.
Compare his statements when he joined the Conservative Party and what he is saying now about it on this blog.
And lets be clear about why he joined and left the party. Plain and simply because he was offered a career opportunity. And what happened when that employment ended? So did his party membership!
Only a cursory read of his blog will tell anyone that he isn’t remotely a Conservative. He came back from one Conservative party conference and ripped apart key Conservative principles on his blog.
The man quite clearly has no principles and plenty of career ambition. After a period of penance with Alliance he will pursue that once again, and lets be honest he is well at home in Alliance where no clear principles and policies exist anyway.
Hold on, if I’ve no principles, how come I set them out clearly on my blog?
They are clear: tackle segregation, re-balance the economy, deliver sustainable public services. The Alliance Party is closest to those; UCUNF had the potential not only to be as close but to deliver in greater numbers, but failed. The NI Conservatives are next closest, but have no capacity actually to deliver on any of it.
Perhaps you can point me to something I’ve said which is inconsistent with the Conservative manifesto of 2010, aside from on immigration on which I stated I was in disagreement at the initial selection? You may in fact find I’m closer than the Government is – I continue to support deficit reduction to zero during this term, something the “Conservative” Chancellor has outrageously binned.
I think the thing we’re all trying to grapple with Ian is why you joined the Conservative Party in the first place, bitched about it while a member, and then promptly left it again. Was it all about the little salary?
A non story. ‘Leading member’? The Tories don’t even know nothing about this resignation. Try harder next time.
“Don’t even know nothing.” Hmm. Use of English not your forte Bob…Anyway, I was simply reporting what I was told. I didn’t pitch it as the scoop of the century. Glad to hear that John is still part of the Tory fold.
Bob’s command of English language is appalling. Needs to be slapped round the chops Parsley-style. Allow me!
Have it on reasonable authority that should Ian apply – note use of ‘apply’- to join the Conservatives again, his application shall be considered by his local association in the usual fashion.
But then again, having publicly denounced Conservatives , and the UUP, when he was once touting for support for Westminster & Stormont….and I note penning an adoring essay aimed at Alliance…anything could happen!
No response from Parsley on Jeff’s question regarding the little salary. mmm
Forget about him joining the Conservatives Joanne unless you can throw another salary in.
When I spoke of principles I wasn’t talking about political views I was talking about convictions vs careerism!
Everyone is entitled to further their career but not at the expense of convictions.
With so little talent in Alliance Parsley is wise to stay put. Wonder how much they pay their leader?!