Opinion

Patricia Mac Bride: Untimely death should make us reflect on political respect

DUP MLA Christopher Stalford, who died at the weekend aged 39.
DUP MLA Christopher Stalford, who died at the weekend aged 39. DUP MLA Christopher Stalford, who died at the weekend aged 39.

When the DUP deputy leader, Paula Bradley, got to her feet on Monday to pay tribute to her late colleague, Christopher Stalford, she said: “Christopher's joy came not in holding office but in how he could use that office to improve the everyday lives of those he was honoured to represent. It was a mark of the man that he had friends on all sides of this chamber.”

One by one, representatives of the other parties at Stormont paid tribute to a man who was characterised as a fierce debater, quick-witted, intelligent and funny. Above all, his devotion to his family was cited as his defining characteristic, and one that was universally admired.

It is a true maxim that in politics, as in life, unity is often found in adversity. We saw it in how Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill navigated their way through managing the Stormont Executive’s response to Covid-19 in a manner that was united for the most part.

We saw it on Monday when the assembly united to pay tribute to one of their own, regardless of whether Christopher Stalford had sat on the bench beside them or opposite them. It was sincere.

The untimely passing of a 39-year-old dedicated father and beloved husband is a cause for reflection in any walk of life. But in this instance, Christopher Stalford’s death gives us an opportunity to reflect on political respect.

The challenge is how can the same generosity of spirit heard in the responses to his death be reflected in the future workings of the assembly and executive to ensure that the business of politics is done in a way that is much more respectful?

Last week Sammy Wilson was repeatedly heckled on the platform as he addressed a loyalist rally in Markethill, held in protest at the Brexit protocol. At times, he could not be heard over the shouts of protesters and the TUV’s Jim Allister had to intervene and appealed to people to listen to all the speakers and that they would have the opportunity at the polls to express themselves, but that it was important to listen to all unionist voices. A sort of grudging respect from Jim, you’d have to say.

Disunity and disrespect are problems for unionism in the context of the assembly election taking place ten weeks from today.

The TUV has maintained a consistent enough rating in opinion polls over recent months, but these polls in the past have not translated into seat gains in the assembly and there is no reason to think they will this time around. The party has said it will be fielding candidates in all 18 constituencies, but half a quota in a handful of constituencies might leave them with still only one seat unless they aggressively target an anti-protocol vote with recognisable candidates.

The pro-union parties’ messages on the protocol aren’t clear. The majority of the electorate doesn’t understand the undermining of the Act of Union argument that keeps being trotted out, or why it should matter to them. Business has said the biggest problem with the protocol is that the British government and some suppliers in Britain haven’t put in place the infrastructure to operate the protocol. The numbers from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) show imports and exports are up.

A unity of approach on the protocol might be the best unionism can hope for. The best-case scenario for unionism in the election would be if there was a switch around between unionist parties in a few seats but no overall loss of representation.

And that gives rise to a question about respect.

Jim Allister has called on other unionist parties to clarify whether they would nominate a candidate for the role of deputy first minister post-election in the event that Sinn Féin are returned as the largest party and thus be entitled to nominate the position of first minister.

The DUP may say that Paul Givan resigned as first minister in protest at the protocol and it won’t be making that decision until the protocol is sorted, but it should still answer in the hypothetical.

Likewise, Doug Beattie needs to make the UUP position clear should it be returned as the largest unionist party.

The two main unionist parties need to say that they will nominate a deputy first minister to share the co-equal office we all know it to be in the event that the polls are right and Sinn Féin returns as the largest party.

That is how to show respect for the political mandate of others. In doing so, MLAs can then use their office to improve the everyday lives of those they are privileged to represent, just as Christopher Stalford did. May he rest in peace.