Unionism’s dilemma could be helped if DUP stopped running away from Sinn Féin - Empey
UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey is in Fermanagh this evening addressing Ulster Unionists from across the County.
In a speech to members Sir Reg spelt out the dilemma that Unionists find themselves in and called on the DUP to confront Sinn Fein instead of running away from them.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“Unionism is in a dilemma at the moment. Currently we are ringside spectators as Direct Rule Ministers make woeful decisions on education, water charges, rates increases and a number of side-deals with Republicans that Unionism had no knowledge of are played out before our eyes.
Additionally it seems that the Secretary of State has indicated a likely increase in North-Southery. In this context it is vital that we get the Assembly functioning so we can exert real influence over our own affairs.
On the other hand, we are confronted by a republican movement that represents a majority of nationalists and is not yet committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means. We also have a government that has proved itself unwilling to enforce its own policy when it said that it would not allow anybody not committed to these basic principles to exercise power.
This is Unionism’s collective dilemma. We need to have a debate within Unionism on how we move forward with regard to Sinn Fein. Unionism started off with a ‘Smash Sinn Fein’ policy. This has been a failure. We cannot allow Sinn Fein to hold the keys to Stormont.
A good starting point would be for the DUP to stop running away from Sinn Fein and confront them directly. If Sinn Fein are not confronted by the DUP Unionism might squander the last opportunity to get proper devolution at Stormont and could be faced by permanent Direct Rule and a future Irish Government propped up by Sinn Fein.”