Allister Addresses Ballymoney TUV Dinner
30 January 2012
Speaking on Friday night (27th January 2012) to the annual fundraising dinner of Ballymoney TUV, Party Leader Jim Allister MLA said his time in the Assembly had confirmed him in the view that as presently constituted Stormont was hopelessly failing the people of Northern Ireland. The fact that the parties of government didn’t have to agree on anything to be in government – because of the absurdity of mandatory coalition – meant that when in government dysfunctional failure is the order of the day.
“How we got to this situation of terrorists in government, and an administration that doesn’t work, has just become clearer this week with the publication of Peter Hain’s revealing memoirs. The means by which he tamed the DUP lion - that once roared its unalterable opposition to terrorists in government – shows exposes how easily they were bought.
“Chelsea tickets for Peter Robinson, dollops of flattery for Ian Paisley, private meetings to make Junior feel important and, above all, the threat of turning off the money tap, did the trick. For a party which for years hurled bellicose abuse at the Ulster Unionists over their sell outs, the DUP rolled over remarkably easily. How they fell into bed with Sinn Fein the moment Hain threatened to cut their salaries is an appalling indictment of their supposed principles and conviction.
“Far from it being the threat of some make believe ‘Plan B’, it turns out all it took was a threat to stop the cheque. Suddenly, the supposedly strong men of the DUP displayed that their salaries meant more to them than their principles. Martin McGuinness as Joint First Minister from being anathema, was now not just right, but good for the Union.
“What a sordid, sorry tale Peter Hain tells of how the DUP was bought.
“And, of course, it is this same priority of clinging to power - any power – which keeps Stormont going and which alas will keep IRA/Sinn Fein in government, courtesy of the whatever it takes attitude of the DUP. In the face of such tawdry misgovernment, my pledge remains to be that thorn in their flesh and the abandoned conscience of those who delivered IRA into government for a mess of potage.”
