The jokes on the hill
27 September 2008
Extract from a speech by Traditional Unionist Voice Leader, Jim Allister MEP, to Ballymena TUV Branch on Saturday 27 September 2008:
“Recent weeks have been a salutary lesson in the ignominy which Belfast Agreement devolution brings to democrats and Unionists.
Sinn Fein, true to form, is belligerently demanding new concessions to stay within the political process. Peter Robinson threatened “serious consequences” if the Executive didn’t meet last week. Sinn Fein defiantly laughed at him and the First Minister stands foolishly exposed as an Emperor with no clothes. Why, because he surrendered self respect the moment he took joint, equal and indivisible office with McGuinness. He can do nothing without Marty the terrorist, because he has equal power and equal veto.
If he was a real First Minister, not a bit player in a dysfunctional and unworkable joint office, he could crack the whip and others would jump. But Peter cracks the whip and Sinn Fein laugh at him, like Murphy’s defiance over his republicanisation of the Regional Strategy planning document. What has Peter Robinson done about that? Nothing.
One of Peter’s ministerial colleagues in OFMDFM, Bomber Kelly, on Monday boasts of shooting a prison officer in the head and on Tuesday flies off at taxpayers’ expense, with Junior Jeff, to collect a “Dove Peace Award” in the USA. My, the DUP really have put manners on republicans!
Surely at some point, even those besotted by the titles of their office, will realise this farce can’t go on. Sinn Fein has had their chance – a chance they never deserved. They have demonstrated beyond doubt their unfitness for government and their continuing affinity to terrorism, as now they shelter a wanted ETA murderer.
These are the people the gullible told us had changed, were fit for government, had even, in Ian Paisley’s foolish boast, “bought into the British state”. Could the DUP have been any more wrong?
How much more indignity will Peter Robinson endure before he breaks free from the shackles of failed Belfast Agreement devolution and tell the Prime Minister mandatory coalition is over, failed, finished and if Westminster wants devolution it can only be through voluntary coalition. In that he would have the support of all Unionists. “Peter, you’ve nothing to lose but your chains, so do it while you still retain some dignity!”
Instead, I fear, the titles of office will hold sway and Unionism will be led further down the concession road to keep the jobs of the Jokes on the Hill. Already, the First Minister is wooing Sinn Fein with pledges of fidelity to policing and justice. Soon, he will move further and make no mistake, but for TUV and the European Election he’d have done the deal already! But do it he will, its only a matter of when, and then it will be on to the next demand from insatiable Sinn Fein, for such is how Belfast Agreement devolution works.”
