A Tangled Web

The Friday Essay



NO OPTION BUT TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF SINN FEIN?



The endless friction between the two major Unionist Parties as to which best represents the settled will of the pro-Union people misses the potential that Unionism united could achieve. This is best illustrated in how both these Parties have failed miserably to deal with the menace of the political hydra Sinn Fein/IRA.



For many years the Ulster Unionist Party, representing a particular form of Unionism, was ascendant. From the mid-90’s, under the yawning aegis of the peace process, this dominant form of Unionism gained international acclaim but locally lost credibility. The dilettantism of David Trimble in pursuit of a political accommodation with militant republicans created a deep fissure that has deeply divided his Party.



In November 2003, the era of UUP dominance came to an end. In from the cold stomped the abominable No-men of the DUP. Shaking the permafrost from their boots it is obvious that they intend staying in the new-found warmth of being the largest Unionist Party at Stormont and at Westminster. The detailed content of their “Devolution Now” blueprint may have come as a surprise to some of those who voted for them back in November, but it is a clear signal that they are looking to find some sort of way forward.



Yet the more things change, the more they stay the same. As commentator Alex Kane has pointed out in the Newsletter the recent Tohill incident presented both Unionist parties with their first major post-election challenge. How would Trimble and Paisley react to the PSNI confirmation that this was an unambiguous PIRA operation? The answer is that they swapped historical roles as Trimble threatened to walk out and Paisley insisted he would stay in!



Herein lies Unionism’s problem. Ego and inertia usually ensures that nothing really ever changes. Over the past number of years the pressure was on the UUP to walk out of talks. They stayed long past the hour of as long as decency allowed. Now we have role reversal and the pressure is on the DUP to walk out. But this achieves nothing much to the general satisfaction of those who seek the end of the Union.



Mr Kane suggests that there is no option but to deal with Sinn Fein/IRA. In one regard he is absolutely correct – Sinn Fein does have to be dealt with but not in the way he thinks. In essence he suggests that since Government calls the shots the best any Unionist Party can do is accept Adams, McGuinness and crew on board the good ship Devolution and hope . But is that correct?



For Unionists to demand that devolved Government in Northern Ireland conforms to the same principles applied in Scotland and Wales is both reasonable and presentable. In Cardiff and Edinburgh there is no prospect that political parties linked to paramilitaries be tolerated. Are we less worthy?



Unionism is quite entitled to turn around to Government and insist that we in Northern Ireland are treated the same



Devolution as currently constructed is a baited trap. The deal is that Unionists get to exercise power but only if they accept paramilitary proxies in Government.



Suppose both Unionists parties came out with an unambiguous “No” to this! What would our lugubrious Secretary of State do? Ignore the majority? How would that look to the outside world? Furthermore, suppose both Unionist Parties agreed that



Unionism united in purpose can deal with Sinn Fein and get a better deal for all of the decent people of Northern Ireland. It should set aside sectional party advantage and look to the broader vision. Confident, assertive, effective. These are the characteristics of a political ideology that has a future.