New Year Message from Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister
01 January 2008
“It is a time to look both back and forward.
Despite the pretence of the DUP leadership, 2007 was a bad year for Unionism and for the Union. Once more we have unrepentant terrorists at the heart of our government, while their wicked Army Council still functions and Sinn Fein’s military wing murders Paul Quinn. And, all this, with barely a squeak of protest from those who made their careers out of denouncing weakness by others, but now find IRA/Sinn Fein’s company congenial and the Belfast Agreement palatable. Instead of the promised “battle a day” it’s a “chuckle a day”.
It’s been a year of broken promises, all in the pursuit of office. In his New Year’s message last January, among Ian Paisley’s lavish promises, under the heading “Delivery to Our Satisfaction”, was the specific assurance that the ill-gotten gains must be returned. Soon they were the forgotten gains! Likewise forgotten was further delivery by Sinn Fein – including removal of all terrorist structures - “tested and proved over a credible period” and the guarantee, as a prerequisite, of a mega financial package to underpin devolution.
The government we’ve had has been far from the “good government” promised. Our education system is in chaos, we are, after all, to pay for our water, we have a dysfunctional OFMDFM which can’t even deliver the promised Victims’ Commissioner and the Causeway has been so mishandled as to beggar belief. Of greater long-term significance is the acceleration in north/southery, far beyond the pace under Direct Rule. The all-island harmonisation process is under way, as crafted by the Belfast Agreement in keeping with its long-term trajectory of Irish unification.
I believe, in retrospect, 8th May 2007 will be looked back upon as the pivotal turning point is setting Ulster on the wrong road.
Thus, 2008, for me, will be a year of seeking to energise and give voice to traditional unionists who still rightly reject IRA/Sinn Fein in our government, believing them to be utterly unfit to govern a state they are dedicated to destroy: occupying the honourable ground once held by those now head over heels in government with Sinn Fein. Being the conscience of those who avowed to resist such also has its role to play.
Encouraged by the initial response to ‘Traditional Unionist Voice’, throughout 2008 I look forward to more and more unionists coming to the realisation that the present devolution, built upon the corrupted basis of the Belfast Agreement, is not delivering as promised, but rather is trundling them in a direction they do not wish to go.
On the national scene the UK will take a vital decision affecting the future of our nation for generations to come. The EU Reform Treaty, or Constitution as it should be more properly called, is up for ratification. The unifying demand of all democrats must be that Government delivers on its manifesto commitment to hold a referendum. This Treaty strips further powers from our nation, creates the apparatus of statehood for the EU and sucks us deeper into the vortex of euro-federalism. It is not in our national interest. We are entitled to have our say, rather than have it rammed through Westminster on a whipped vote.
So much of my energy as an MEP will continue to be devoted to exposing and opposing the surrender of more sovereignty to Brussels, while seeking at all times to extract the best deal for Northern Ireland on funding and other issues.
I take this opportunity of wishing everyone a happy and peaceful new year.”
