UUP and DUP policies the same

Editorial Department • Published 4 Mar 2010 12:53 0 Comments

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Dear Sir, - The letter from Mrs Arlene Foster MLA which appeared last week in The Impartial Reporter really beggars belief. It is a well known fact that the DUP machinery was pulling the strings in the background as most of their electoral workers provided assistance to the Independent candidate in 2001. Not that that is relevant any more as both DUP and UUP policies are quite similar now.

Both parties are now prepared to tolerate murderers and criminals from IRA/Sinn Fein in Government and many party members lust for power. So where are the present problems arising?

It appears to me that DUP and UUP would like to carve up Fermanagh/South Tyrone and South Belfast between them, but can't decide who gets which one. Apparently the suitable unity candidate suggested refuses to stand due to believe it or not 'lack of unity'.

While many talk of a unity candidate, the simple fact is that this candidate must be suitable to all three major shades of unionism (TUV, DUP, and UUP). A tall order you might add. TUV achieved a sizeable portion of votes in the European election and have held this percentage in all by-elections since. They are particularly strong in North Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Have their views and agreement for a unity candidate been overlooked as I hear of no consultation with that party? I fear not!

Unionism in the west really does need a unity candidate. Regrettably for Arlene Foster or Tom Elliott, neither can unite Unionism. Everyone remembers the 'unity' brought about in the UUP by both of you and friends during the David Trimble leadership crisis with Orange Order delegates from Fermanagh flocking to Belfast to bring Trimble down. It was all downhill for UUP for the next decade and more.

Many in the UUP will not forget the betrayal of their party when you and Messrs. Donaldson and co. joined the DUP allegedly because of your opposition to the Belfast Agreement formula. In the 2005 Westminster election, neither of you could stomach Unionist unity resulting in IRA/Sinn Fein winning the seat. So are we to tolerate such intransigence from either party in Fermanagh South Tyrone again.

Those who support TUV policies will not forget that betrayal that was exercised by DUP (you included) in accepting the 'new DUP take' on an unchanged Belfast Agreement. Terms were still the same; IRA/Sinn Fein hadn't given any further concessions from when in power with UUP and DUP entered this time 'top dog' in the Stormont junta.

Being one who voted for you Ms. Foster at the last Westminster election, I can assure you that you no longer carry the same support as you have in the past. Your party's 'jump into bed' with IRA/Sinn Fein sealed your vote's future as far as I'm concerned. So which part of your recent manifesto did you keep and which parts did you throw in the shredder?

However; I am pleased you want to build Northern Ireland into a successful country. Is this the same sort of success according to the Westminster Treasury Committee that occurred 'on your watch' within the Presbyterian Mutual Society while your Department stood idly by? Is this the same success that was created at Hillsborough when we heard IRA/Sinn Fein talk about "In some cases the reality is that a resolution to a particular parading dispute will be no parade" Is this the same success that we see with a Stormont Government overspend of £340m? Is it the same success with promises of no water charges? Yes it is!

Your party has taken a big bruising in relation to issues creating serious mistrust of DUP politicians. Your party has fallen on its own political sword just like many Ulster Unionist Governments since Terence O'Neill in 1969. The electorate will, I promise you, deliver its message to DUP in a few months time.

Yours faithfully

INTEGRITY BEFORE POWER

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Mar 10

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