At long last, after 35 years of assorted negotiations, we have a government with local Ministers representing us at all levels. We must congratulate Dr Paisley on taking the brave and unexpected step to a new era of co-operation in politics. In many respects the St Andrew’s Agreement is indistinguishable from the 1998 original so heavily lambasted by the DUP. He may claim it’s a better and fairer deal—I’m not so sure.

The DUP are purporting that all is rosy for Unionism. The reality is that while the Dr Paisley may seem to have skilfully led the DUP into a deal with which it is not naturally comfortable, he has also taken unionism into a strategic cul-de-sac in which the room for manoeuvre is extremely limited.

Peter Hain’s very personal and very draconian form of direct rule brought political blackmail to the level of an art form, with its threats of increased domestic and industrial rates and the removal of academic selection. Water rates bills were ready to be posted, seven super councils (supported by Sinn Fein) were pending, along with tighter planning rules and tighter funding in all areas. The sole object of this blackmail was to “persuade” the DUP into Government with Sinn Fein. The very fact that the tactic worked, showed just how little influence the DUP could exert; and it also demonstrated the weakened state of the Union itself.

We now have an added threat posed by the rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales. Dr Paisley seems remarkably comfortable with the leaders of nationalist movements across the United Kingdom and Ireland. He is also comfortable with his own version of little-Ulster nationalism, happier to promote the “ourselves alone” version of unionism rather than an overarching pan-UK unionism.

It all begs the question why could we not have had power sharing 33 years ago with constitutional nationalists, a question Dr Paisley has yet to answer? It was Paisley himself who fanned the flames on numerous occasions, encouraging increased divisions and sectarianism. Bigotry remains endemic in Northern Ireland due to a process of polarisation of politics practiced by both the DUP and Sinn Fein for their own party political ends. Hardly surprising, I suppose, that they are now top dogs in their own packs and able to bark their supposed triumphs to their own followers. They may have done well from the spoils of office; sadly though, the same is not true for the province as a whole.

And what happened to the financial package promised by the tough, “no push-over” DUP? Newly appointed Finance Minister, Peter Robinson, is preparing a budget that will impose cuts across most departments and put many projects on the back-burner.The DUP’s relative failure to obtain a substantial financial package linked to the return of devolution highlights their impotence when faced with the political clout of the Sovereign government.

But times change, that’s politics, and we must move on,we in UUP welcome the DUP’s conversion to real politics. In their ministerial roles we see them working the system ,let’s hope that with no extra money available they can make the departmental efficiency savings necessary to release funds to other priority areas.

Meanwhile,the UUP’s new objectives clause includes the objective to promote and strengthen the Union. It is vital we ensure that the fundamental principles and philosophy of Unionism are not threatened further. We fought successfully for parity with equal rights as equal citizens in the United Kingdom. We will continue to press for a Royal Commission into the future of the Union, for above all else we must participate and contribute to the Union and gain and build friendships within and throughout the United Kingdom.

Under DUP /Sinn Fein rule I fear that the true principles and philosophy of Unionism are under threat. The principles upon which the Union itself was founded are under threat. We now have an Ulster-centric, Ulster-nationalist style of Unionism developing under the DUP, with increased reliance on the state in all walks of life. This fits well with Sinn Fein’s centralist socialist economic policies, a public sector dependent economy and a decimated private sector following the years of violence. We see DUP and Sinn Fein Ministers on TV espousing similar policies based on state intervention and control over our lives.

The UUP’s founding principles were based on the freedom of the individual, free from state control and underpinned by the promotion of science, industry and enterprise within an open and free economy, following the traditions of the Scottish enlightenment.The UUP once again needs to grasp the true principles of Unionism.We need real practical cross-community politics rather than subsidise sectarian politics through DUP and SF’s axis of state interference.

The DUP has fallen into Sinn Fein’s trap with their joint campaign for equal rates of corporation tax and more state control over our lives. This is diametrically opposed to the principles upon which Unionism was founded ie parity of taxation and welfare rights within the UK. Sinn Fein is trying to create an all-Ireland economy with a socialist agenda while the DUP acquiesce in the comfort of their new found power and multiple mandates.

Instead we in Unionism should be arguing for lower Corporation Tax rates within the whole Union. Gordon Brown has already signalled lower rates in the future for the whole Kingdom with a reduction from 2008 to 28%. This is an example of how Unionism must learn to engage with our partners in the Union and contribute to the Union.

The UUP is committed to ensuring equal rights to quality public services within the Union and to ensure a successful market economy where the freedom of the individual is paramount. The individual needs freedom from the shackles of state control and public sector domination and its ‘crowding out’ of talent from the private sector; otherwise we will be outgunned by the dynamic free market capitalist economy of the Celtic Tiger and some newly emerging economies. All Unionists need to work out what the Union is about, promote its’ principles, contribute to it and ensure that it not only survives but also thrives and with Northern Ireland an integrally working part.