Bad and humiliating staging post deal for Unionism - Allister

05 February 2010

Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC 

“Roll-over unionism is still delivering - delivering the Sinn Fein agenda.

“Today, after all its bluster about ‘political lifetimes’, pre-conditions – like no Army Council, no Parades Commission and retention of the Full-time Reserve – and the solemn pledge of a real consultation period, the DUP capitulated to Sinn Fein’s key strategic demand that policing and justice be surrendered to their terrorist-inclusive Executive – something they have described as ‘central to ending British rule’.

“The pretence that this is in the interests ‘of all the people of Northern Ireland’ is arrant nonsense. This is a Sinn Fein win and defeat for Unionism. Even the DUP promise to ensure that the Justice Minister’s actions would be protected from the Sinn Fein veto within the Executive has been broken. The Minister will be a full Executive member subject to the toxic Sinn Fein veto on all Justice legislation, all spending decisions, and all cross-cutting issues. The DUP previously pledged to keep the Justiceminister’s action beyond the meddling reach of IRA/Sinn Fein, but again, Sinn Fein has won this argument. Let it also be remember, this is only an interim deal till 2012 when Sinn Fein, which plays a long game, will position itself to get policing and justice within its own direct grasp.

“And what has the DUP got in return? Almost nothing; the risible fig leaf of a review of a review of the Parades Commission! Make no mistake, the Parades Commission stays. When what is proposed walks like the Parades Commission, talks like the Parades Commission and looks like the Parades Commission, IT IS THE PARADES COMMISSION.

“But Sinn Fein’s victory doesn’t end here. They’ve won a new focus for grievance, promise to action outstanding matters from St Andrews – this means the Irish Language, expansion of the north/south bodies and north/south parliamentary links. Just like the promise on policing and justice in the St Andrews Agreement was a ticking time-bomb for Unionism, so the undertakings on the Irish Language and north/southery will be the new smouldering opportunity for fresh blackmail, the next time Sinn Fein needs to gorge on DUP concessions at its next staging post.

“How many times did the DUP not boast that they had buried the Irish Language issue? It was their greatest scalp in devolution! Now, we find, as I previously warned, that suddenly it is back on the table as part of republicanism’s agenda to sanitise this Province of its Britishness. How long before everyone is back at Hillsborough as Sinn Fein threatens collapse again, if the final roll-over on the Irish Language or north/southery is delayed?

 “Thus, the very nature of this sordid deal guarantees more instability.

“Despite all the bon homie, the dysfunctional failures of Belfast Agreement devolution have not been fixed. The continuing toxic Sinn Fein veto, upon which mandatory coalition is built, means instability – which suits Sinn Fein fine – will continue in perpetuity.

“This is a bad and humiliating deal for Unionism: more made in Connolly House than in Hillsborough. The DUP, and particularly its ‘strongmen’ who melted away as ‘snowmen’, have failed Ulster. Push-over unionism has let us down again. Not for the first time its down to stand up for what is right.”

NI politics