In June 2008 this blog was somewhat scathing about the DUP's plans to establish a 'Unionist Academy', which it claimed would promote "the unionist culture" and the "advantages of the union"; encourage "unionist learning in the community" and provide a forum for unionist strategising and policy-making. Intended to be a think-tank rather a bricks and mortar establishment, it would offer a forum where DUP "policies can be formulated" and would also be an educational vehicle.
The DUP announced that this 'academy' would be set up in September 2008. It wasn't.
After a year of silence on the 'academy', on 21 July 2009 the DUP's nemesis, Jim Allister (channelled through TUV Secretary Karen Boal), asked: "Where are the DUP's Academy and Equality Unit?"
By sheer coincidence, no doubt, two days later the DUP leader, Peter Robinson, made his first reference to the 'academy' in over a year: "My plans for the development of a Unionist Academy are at an advanced stage and will be made public soon."
Needless to say, no mention was made in Robinson's statement of the TUV prodding, but it is abundantly clear that his mention of the 'academy' was a direct result of the TUV's questions. Yet more proof that the DUP is almost obsessive in the attention it pays to the TUV, and proof also that the DUP recognises the danger that Allister's brand of ultra-unionism poses to the DUP. Time is running out – the DUP has failed to ward off the Allister threat since it first appeared in Dromore in February 2008. The DUP were humiliated then, and humiliated again in June this year in the European Parliament elections. And the next few elections, coming closer and closer, pose an even bigger threat – if the DUP cannot deal with the TUV by the time of the next Westminster elections (April 2010?), they risk being mortally wounded, and risk suffering the same fate that they, in their turn, inflicted on the UUP.
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35 comments:
Yet another DUP project going nowhere whatever happened to all the money they collected to fight the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
40,000 hits on your Blog well done Horseman keep up the good work!
a seriously excellent blog full of insights into the scorpion-fight of ulster politics
I see this Blog made it on to Slugger's BlogRoll well done everybody!
The partition of Ireland in 1921, which was undemocratic, has resulted in disaster after disaster ever since. The lines on the map of Ireland should not have been drawn where they were drawn at the time. It is rather simple, really. You now have a situation where long and tall walls running for miles divide people from each other. And those walls will be staying up even in 25 or 30 years' time and even after Catholics outnumber Protestants. Very sad.
The walls inside some peoples heads are higher and the foundations even deeper, in the intolerances of centuries past.
MPG .....
All very true but we cannot let the past rule our future.
I see Unionist politicans are complaining about there not being a Union Flag on the new ID card. A different floral symbol for each country appears instead a rose for England a shamrock for NI.
The Rev Stephen Dickinson has refused to attend a Orange Order Central Comittee meeting. His group within the Order has called a series of public meetings across the North. To discuss the direction the Orange Order is taking. All this is in todays Belfast Newsletter.
The Dickinson group is called Reformation Ireland.
Ulster's Doomed! has come in at number six in the Total Politics Top Twenty Northern Ireland Blogs. Well done Horseman keep up the good work.
is Horseman on vacation?
I CANT LIVE WITHOUT THESE BLOGS ! WHERE IS HORSEMAN (AN CAPALL FEAR)
Where are you Horseman?
No Posts since 24th july and still several thousand visitors.
Come back Horseman all is forgiven.
I hope you are keeping well!
MPG .....
Horseman i hope that you are comming back, i miss the updates on this blog
to Burt S.
Yessir, the partition as it was done, was undemocratic. That does not mean, however, that a partition was not the best solution. The lines should just have been drawn differently at the time. This would have made for more clear majorities and less suffering on both sides.
Why do nationalists not want to make a new partition, to take NI bit by bit?
Greetings from a continental protestant.
Greetings Continental
Repartition is out of the question. It would effectively end any chance of a united Ireland, and I for one would not want to leave behind Nationalists stuck in another gerrymandered state where any expression of Irish identity would be suppressed. Unionist only hold a majority in two counties of the current 6 counties, and a two county state would be a failure as a political entity.
I hope this answers your question and welcome to the discussion.
Repartition is not out of the question. And if it was ever implemented, I doubt it would be on a county by county basis.
What Paddy wants isn't always what Paddy gets. Or haven't you woken up to that yet?
Even SF have...
Repartition is out of the question. It is 2009, not 1947 India.
Anyway there is no need to partition Northern Ireland. Whether Unionists like it or not, NI is becoming more and more connected to the Republic.
The British sold the Unionists out more than a decade ago. They are trying to hold on to people who have no interest in holding on to them.
Ask most people on the mainland and they will give you their opinion of Northern Ireland.
The unification of Ireland is happening peacefully and with the full support of the British government and British people.
Obviously the Unionists have their eyes closed.
"What Paddy wants isn't always what Paddy gets. Or haven't you woken up to that yet?"
Andy, that is why the former "terrorists" are in the government of Northern Ireland.
How is it on the mainland, empire going good?
Has horseman died? or is he on the laethainte soaire?
There's some real retarded micks on this blog.
All together now -
OUR DAY WILL COME!!!
LOL
Our day came more than a decade ago when the British government sold you out.
Ye, I can see that (giggle).
Why are The Oirish so gullible?
Yes indeed, I was on holiday - I'm touched that anyone noticed! And when I go, I go cold turkey ... no internet, barely even a newspaper. Though, of course, during the summer there is little enough to comment on (what more can be said about the futility of mutual arson attacks?).
Eureka!
Horseman`s back.
Let the good times roll again.
MPG .....
Tháinig tú ar ais -buíochas le Dia.Anois,tosaigh ag scrobh arís
ag scríobh arís !!!
Nice to have you back Horseman.
It looks like Robert's on drugs given the postings he's just made.
Higher baby,
Higher baby,
Don't ever come down...
Welcome back Horseman,
Just a thought. Have you considered inward migration as a consideration?
Eg: Southerners, Poles, Romas, English, Scots etc etc
I suspect Irish Nationalism won't be getting much of The Jewish vote...
Céin fáth?
FF, FG and Labour have had very high profile Jewish representatives in the Dáil and elsewhere!
There may not be many Jews on the island but they have a proud and influential political history in the south.
MPG .....
Yes, but 'The South' doesn't have a vote in 'The North'. All those PLO flags and murals go down with The Jews in Ulster like the proverbial bacon sandwich...
Or did the thick Irish not realise that?
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