Reflections on the Anglo Irish Agreement

Last month saw the twenty fifth anniversary of the Anglo Irish Agreement. Brain Walker had a far from unionist friendly analysis (unsurprisingly) of it over on Slugger. The same month in 1985 as the agreement was signed, the UUP and DUP mobilised one of the largest mass protests Belfast has ever seen against the Agreement; memorably including Dr. Paisley’s iconic “Never, never, never, never” speech. The News Letter has reflections from a number of different people on that day of protest and Jim Allister has his thoughts on his website.

The long term effect on unionists in general is probably difficult to gauge and no doubt differs between different unionists.

by Turgon

Filed under: Uncategorized, Anglo Irish Agreement, DUP, UUP

McGimpsey’s Brother Attacks UUP-Tory Pact

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Four Ulster Unionists, including Health Minister Michael McGimpsey’s brother Chris, have written to Reg Empey opposing the UUP’s link up with the Tory Party. The four accuse Reg of a lack of vision in seeking a short-term fix to the party’s problems.

Whilst none of the 4 are in themselves big hitters, it is undeniably embarrassing for the Health Minister that his brother is among the critics of the parties direction.  Especially since anyone who knows anything about Michael McGimpsey’s political background will know that he is no Tory.  Are his brother Chris’s views representative of his own?  Did Michael have foreknowledge of his brother’s party conference day attack on the party leader?

Filed under: Uncategorized, Chris McGimpsey, Michael McGimpsey, Reg Empey, UUP, UUP conference, UUP-Tory pact

The DUP should support Conservative and Unionist candidates in South Belfast and Fermanagh South Tyrone – Empey

I’ve just been chatting to the party leader, in the wake of a successful conference speech.

I took the opportunity to ask him about the ‘unionist unity’ question. He was fairly adamant that the Conservatives and Unionists would not be standing aside. It is clear that Arlene Foster’s involvement in the DUP campaign for an electoral deal is particularly irksome to Ulster Unionists.

Sir Reg was scathing about her hypocrisy and motioned towards the Beaten Docket pub as an emblem of the DUP’s chances in any election. When the Conservatives and Unionists select their candidates, Empey insisted, the DUP should simply support them.

Looking ahead to Assembly elections, likely to take place in 2011, the UUP party leader acknowledged that the Conservative and UUP connection would have to be considered. He agreed that it was difficult to envisage candidates from two connected parties fighting against each other, but highlighted legal difficulties in extending the Westminster arrangement.

Filed under: Uncategorized, UUP, UUP conference