I very much welcome the announcement from Basil McCrea and John McCallister that they are to establish a new pro-Union and progressive political party.
Choice is good. And it’s good that the voters of Northern Ireland are to be offered something other than the tribal politics of the past.
I suspect that Basil and John’s new party will try to appeal to voters (and people who don’t currently vote) from across the electorate. For this reason I’d hope that the new name of the Party will not include the “Unionist” word. Unionism has become a euphemism for Protestant.
It’s for this reason that the Party should distance itself from the current Unionist-Nationalist nonsense. Pro-Union, sure. But let’s move on from the dialog of the past.
Indeed. The obvious name is ‘Not the Unionist Party Party’ or NTUPP.
Will you be its third member?
Well its 2 current members are MLAs. I wish them success – that’s all. It’s a good initiative.
What about a name with “Northern Irish” in it? Is anyone currently serving this 21%?
‘Northern Irish’ had widespread support from Conservative members, when they were re-branded, but somehow that option got squashed.
I wonder all of this leaves the relevance of the NI Conservatives?
Fairly damning indictment don’t you think?
Yes I think you’re right. The Conservatives locally are verging on invisible. The new Secretary of State appears very detached from them (no bad thing some might argue). But, also, they are very tainted by the UCUNF mess. Basil and John are astute politicians – I can’t really blame them for ignoring the Tories. CNI don’t really have a lot to offer, I’m afraid. And nationally, of course, the Conservatives are well behind in the polls.
“Progressive” – yuk. That usually translates as “middle class Guardian-reading prats” who think that thel answer to everything is higher taxes, more regulation or, preferably, both. They ought to join Labour.
They can’t of course as Labour doesn’t contest elections here. Also I think, to be fair David, both would be economically right of centre. But the Conservatives have failed dismally to offer an alternative. And, of course, also entered into a “Unionist Unity” pact in Fermanagh South Tyrone – the reason I resigned from the Party. That was an insult to the electorate and anti-democratic.
My source in the local Labour party says that will change shortly (although I think they might be encountering resistance from the UK Leadership….).
The NI Cons’ failure to even consider running in the Mid Ulster by-election (essentially endorsing “unionist unity”) is another miserable reflection on the current leadership.
UK Labour will never agree to candidates running here in my view.
Your assessment of the local Tories is correct now Jeff.
Frankly, I can’t see them getting off the ground now with this decision by McCrea and McAllister.
It was their last chance and they blew it.