New Year Message
01 January 2010
New Year Message by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC
“To those of us who desire durable and democratic devolution for Northern Ireland it is possible to view the calamitous performance of the present Stormont regime in 2009 as containing positive potential, in that this failed Executive must fall before anything better can ever be put in its place. It is certainly closer to collapse at the end of 2009 than at the beginning; the contribution of the TUV performance in the Euro election to destabilising terrorist-inclusive government is gratifying. If it falls in 2010 then so much the better. A resulting Assembly election - unless political chicanery prevented such a poll - will result, I believe, in the infusion of sufficient TUV MLAs to compel fresh negotiations and a better outcome.
“Such negotiations will inevitably improve the Unionist position, because the collapse of mandatory coalition and the election of a bridgehead of Traditional Unionists, will be the catalyst for change for the better: restoration of the basic democratic rights to vote a party out of office and have an Opposition are essential stepping stones towards good government. Whereas in the past the leverage of terrorism produced pro-republican outcomes, this time it will be Unionist discontent which requires satisfaction.
“In the Euro election in June voting TUV proved to be Unionism’s best insurance policy. It put the brakes on fast-track concessions to Sinn Fein and has kept policing and justice beyond the meddling reach of McGuinness and his side-kick Kelly, the Old Bailey Bomber. In the
“Personally, in North Antrim I look forward to the challenge and opportunity to stand for the cherished values and principles of Traditional Unionism and against those who have abandoned them in pursuit of high, though short-lived, office. Moreover, I will offer the constituency the full-time representation in Parliament which it has long been denied.
“We in TUV, encouraged by the resurgence in support for conviction politics, look forward to 2010.
“Economically, however, tough times still lie ahead, with hard decisions biting after the General Election, whoever wins. As a nation we must seek to restore a financial balance sheet utterly ruined by Labour. Just as every household must live within its means so must Government and the TUV understands the urgent need to reduce the unsustainable public sector debt, to reform the taxation system to ensure hard working people retain more of what they earn, and to cut wasteful and unproductive bureaucracy at every level whilst protecting vital front-line services.
“The era of Government bail-outs for failure must end and the TUV voice in Parliament will be for a low tax productive economy that is affordable, supportive of the most vulnerable within society and empowering for British enterprise culture. The scale of economic challenge facing the
“Whatever 2010 holds may I wish all a peaceful New Year.”
