Allister derides Sinn Fein's "Paisley must stay" campaign
04 March 2008
Speaking at a public meeting organised by Mid Ulster TUV in Cookstown Orange Hall, Jim Allister MEP said the Chuckle Coalition is feeling the heat of grass roots Unionist rejection.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
“Since Dromore the DUP has rediscovered the existence of the iniquitous Army Council and decided it has to go – funny how till now it didn’t bother them. Indeed we were constantly assured Sinn Fein had fully signed up to support the rule of law, now this past weekend Ian Paisley in his confusion was demanding full support for the rule of law from Sinn Fein. If he is now accepting the elementary precept that support for the rule of law and retention of an Army Council are mutually exclusive, good, but what then is he doing in government with IRA/Sinn Fein?
We say not only does the wicked Army Council have to go but those who are its puppets, the SinnFein ministers, have to go from our government.
Then, this weekend the other half of the double act, Sinn Fein, launched a “Paisley Must Stay” campaign. What a commentary on the departure of Ian Paisley from the core values of traditional unionism that his chief cheer leaders come not from within his own strangely silent party, but from IRA/Sinn Fein. I don’t hear Peter Robinson, or Nigel Dodds or the new mino-minister, Jeffrey Donaldson, say “Paisley Must Stay”, but I hear Dublin, London and now Marty & Gerry all rooting for Ian. Why? Because, they’ve never had it so easy! Hence, for them, his work is not done, they’ve yet more to gain by Ian Paisley further bedding in the all-Ireland agenda of the Belfast Agreement.
How Ian Paisley mocked Trimble over the “Well Done David” approbation from Adams, now it is he who is their pin up. How have the mighty fallen!”
