Two years on from St Andrews
17 October 2008
Extract from a speech by Jim Allister MEP to a TUV fund-raising dinner in Cookstown:-
“Two years ago this week the St Andrews Conference took place and the process which delivered IRA/Sinn Fein into the heart of our government was set in motion. As soon as the conference was over, a mighty propaganda operation swung into action, first within the DUP and then within the wider Unionist community. Peter Robinson was the chief architect of that operation. Its essence was to so grossly exaggerate the St Andrews tinkerings as to pretend the iniquitous Belfast Agreement had been superseded and to reassure doubters that Unionists were so in control that devolution was the answer to all our prayers and that Sinn Fein would never again hold government to ransom and if they did, the promise of an effective default mechanism was there to put manners on them.
How different it has all turned out! The same and essential structures of the Belfast Agreement rule over us, IRA/Sinn Fein can still run amok in government, without sanction, and mock the First Minister’s impotence of being unable to even sign a letter without McGuinness’ permission.
A month ago Peter Robinson promised “serious consequences” if Sinn Fein persisted with their wrecking policies. With every day that passes government descends into deeper chaos, Sinn Fein rejoices in the instability it has been permitted to induce and the First Minister looks more and more foolish, first for championing the return to failed Belfast Agreement devolution and second for issuing empty threats.
It’s time for those who got us here to pull back and realise that mandatory coalition cannot and never will work and, instead, build a consensus across Unionism, and beyond, that only voluntary coalition has any chance of delivering a devolution that works. We can’t go on with the present Stormont charade.”
