John Andrews: “A New Vision for Unionism”
Reg Empey is pioneering radical change in our party following the end of the formal link to the Orange Order.He has followed up this break with traditional Unionism with brave statements in his interview last June in Irish News recognizing that Unionism in general must come to terms with its past and recognize that over the last 35 years Unionist rhetoric from both Unionist parties has been on occasion negative, divisive and in certain cases encouraging violence and sectarian hatred.This big gesture shows a more tolerant and pluralist vision;History shows us UUP has proved it can work with nationalism to make NI work.
Even Sinn Fein are now realizing we have a fairer, more tolerant,more meritocratic and more open and transparent society here than in the Republic,but what is missing is accountable democracy.While the Republic undoubtedly has become more secular and multicultural ,the Celtic tiger has also created a deprived underclass whose votes Sinn Fein have successfully targetted. It is with this vision of a fairer,inclusive and more meritocratic society that we must reach out as a party to pro Union Catholics who can benefit equally from the social ,welfare and public service provisions of the United Kingdom.For this reason we have changed our values and objectives clause in our party rules to espouse the need to promote and strengthen the Union rather than just maintain it.
The Union has been strengthened as a result of the vision and decisions taken by UUP in 1998.The benefits are now clearly seen as illustrated in the recent ‘Life and Times’ survey commissioned by the Electoral commission and carried out by the two Universities which shows more Catholics accepting that the Union remains the only practical constitutional arrangement for the foreseeable future.The results show 32%of Catholics now recognizing the Union as an acceptable way forward and wanting to stay within the Union(previous survey 25%)This clearly illustrates the Union is now more secure .
We also see the two governments now recognizing the Union as the only practical way forward for Northern Ireland.We no longer have Irish governments playing the green card as in the days of Haughey or the Labour Party in Britain flirting with Irish unity.The Irish political parties are now justifiably concerned at the threat of Sinn Fein with their criminality and growing power base which has found succour in growing social and economic inequalities.The conclusion of the ‘Life and Times’ survey clearly illustrates that the Union is secure as noted by The Sunday Times 10 July,’partition is unlikely to be abandoned within the present generation and that even among Catholics a majority would not abolish the border……all the signs in the survey suggest Northern Ireland is stabilizing under direct rule from Britain with Irish government input’ .We see Sinn Fein accepting a partitionist settlement as the only practical way forward and while they talk of unity by 2016 they realize Northern Ireland is now a more fair,meritocratic,multicultural tolerant society.
UUP took risks electorally and it has taken time to reap the rewards, Northern Ireland is stabilizing under the Union with Irish government input and this appears be an acceptable way forward for both communities.
Similarly while many in UUP are wrestling with our consciences over the link with PUP,this may not be electorally popular in the short term but in the longer term this vision again shows UUP taking risks for the benefit of all communities in Northern Ireland.We can not ignore these deprived loyalist areas and have an obligation within Unionism to reach out to bring them in from the cold.Improving standards and aspirations in these communities depends on making NI work and giving jobs and prosperity to all.Too often DUP rhetoric espouses the opposite as it remains in their and Sinn Fein’s electoral interests to perpetuate polarization through the politics of fear.Only the UUP can offer the politics of progress and can work for a Northern Ireland that works and is united and at ease with itself through a truly tolerant and inclusive society.
Our new values and objectives also emphasize the UUP as a party that promotes a tolerant and inclusive society where individuals have equal rights to welfare,education and health benefits regardless of race,gender or creed,this is an essential basis towards creating a truly secular and fair society.
It is to be welcomed that the DUP are finally engaging in the assembly committee set up to restore devolution,it is notable now that recent Sinn Fein statements are showing the party getting cold feet as devolution suddenly is being talked up after the summer’s work.But we in Unionism must be careful DUP walked away before when a deal was near in 2003 with the ’sackcloth and ashes’ speech which scuppered those talks.The truth is DUP are so uncertain and split about where to go they are paralysed into inaction and run for cover everytime they are pushed.What of their new agreement?While we see progress in Stormont,the proposals are basically just a repackage with tweaking of the Belfast agreement and if there is no agreement all that is on offer is more increasingly hard nosed direct rule with joint stewardship the new buzz word government speak for a watered down version of joint authority.We are now faced with unpopular decisions imposed by Blair to blackmail us into devolution on education,RPA,rates ,water rates and even a threatened police precept charge.The big prize is Sinn Fein acceptance of Police which will be lost if the DUP fail to engage seriously .We will then be consigned to joint stewardship ,with continued north south bodies as each deal on offer gets worse for Unionism.We in the UUP are engaging seriously and will work with DUP where possible to ensure the best deal for Unionism.We will continue to reach out confidently and represent Unionism to promote the Union and make Northern Ireland work within the Union for the benefit of all its citizens
Meanwhile the biggest single issue facing the majority of voters is increasing levels of crime,with vandalisim,petty burglery and antisocial behaviour which have all become a recreation.Until we get a grip with the real problems in deprived areas through our own tailor made policies for tackling these real issues these problems will only increase.There are signs that society is breaking down partly due to breakdown in traditional family structures which are leading to an increasingly lawless society.
UUP’ ‘lets get real’ campaign projects radical family friendly policies to encourage the family,with childcare provision and implementation of the proposals of the Hart report to provide counselling support at an early stage to prevent family break-ups.
Sectarianism ( and increasingly racism) are now endemic within our society and perhaps the most serious problem facing our community and must be tackled with politicians taking a lead.Children born after the troubles are now entrenched in sectarian division.It is time for all politicians to act as shown by the example in Scotland where the new devolved executive have made defeat of sectarianism a priority.Too often our politicians simply stoke up fear to perpetuate polarization for their own gain,with rejectionist negative Unionism enjoying the opportunity to use emotive arguments to inflame division and thus destroy any progressive ideas emanating from Unionism.Until we recognize that maintaining the Union means making Northern Ireland work we our consigning our children to under-achievement,poverty and crime in a stagnant economy and especially in the deprived loyalist communities.It is only the UUP that has worked and delivered that can make Northern Ireland work within the Union.