Opinion

SDLP and UUP needn’t fall into tune with tribal beating drums

The problem with a snap election, such as the one fast approaching on March 2, with little notice and especially one at this time of year during poor weather and shorter days, is that it is likely to result in low turnout. Low turnout will mean a race to the extremes as the most staunch DUP and Sinn Féin voters are the most likely to vote, often out of fear of the other side gaining ground. The parties are aware of this fact which is why for this election the DUP and Sinn Féin are determined to beat the


tribal drums.

Over the years the DUP and Sinn Féin have developed a symbiotic relationship, they rely on each other to remain in power. The more confrontational the DUP and Sinn Féin are the more likely unionist and nationalist voters are to go on the defensive and vote with the more extreme brand of their politics to keep the other side out. It’s no surprise then that last election the DUP ran with the slogan ‘Vote DUP to stop a Sinn Féin first minister’.  However, the apparently amicable relationship between SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, could break this cycle if the two parties are willing to campaign on policy rather than just appeal to their own base.

It was the system of Proportional Representation/ Single Transferable Vote (PR/STV) that helped the decline of both the SDLP and the UUP from the two most prominent parties in the region.


As the IRA began decommissioning and the UUP was seen to be giving up too much ground to the nationalists it became increasingly acceptable for SDLP voters to choose Sinn Féin as a second preference and UUP voters to choose DUP as their number two choice and thus led to the rise of Northern Ireland’s two current largest parties. PR/STV among other factors may have helped with the downfall of the SDLP and the UUP but if they are willing to work together to provide the opposition or indeed alternative government they claim to strive for it may be their secret weapon.

If the UUP told its voters to vote UUP number one and SDLP number two and visa versa this would have a considerable effect on the results. Now is the best time for them to make this argument, as if the DUP and Sinn Féin are returned as the two largest parties it is difficult to imagine they will be able to work together.


At a time when Arlene Foster predicts a ‘brutal’ battle and Sinn Féin says there will be ‘no return to the status quo’ the UUP and SDLP may win by offering cooperation and good governance.

FINN PURDY


Carrickfergus, Co Antrim

Prepare for another run of same old, same old

I wonder if four repetitions is significant. Is it perhaps biblical, or simply a DUP internal belief that quadruple emphasis equals certainty? There is one certainty, at least, and that is that the 200,000 DUP voters of seven months ago will turn out again to blindly support their anointed queen Arlene. Scandal? What scandal? Sure that’s just Sinn Féin trying to undermine Arlene. OK, maybe there was a wee bit of a mix up over RHI but sure it could happen to the bishop. Anyway, plenty of deserving chicken farmers, community groups, wee bands and a clatter of Orange halls have benefited under Arlene’s time in office, so we say ‘more of the same’.

And in response, Sinn Féin will counter with a whole chapter of failures by the DUP in their shared time in office not to mention their failures of the past 10 years. Was I asleep or not paying heed to the serious business of government but did I not hear Sinn Féin, in the run-up to Christmas, defending the DUP like they were long, lost cousins and not merely partners in government? Will Sinn Féin electorate punish them for speaking out of both sides of the mouth simultaneously. I hardly think so. After all the DUP must be matched every step of the way.

So folks, prepare for another rerun of the same old, same old.


Mike, Colum and Naomi may be collectively apoplectic about the shenanigans but while the ‘stay at home and bitch’ armchair supporters of both SDLP, UU and Alliance continue to do just that, then we’ll have DUP and Sinn Féin for evermore.


You see, their supporters believe in something even if it’s only in the shortcomings of the other side and they are able to shut out trivial stuff like lying, cheating and money wasting.


How could ‘direct rule’ be worse than this, whichever brand you prefer?

KIERAN McMULLAN


Randalstown, Co Antrim

Politicians should stand up for truth

On the subjects of abortion and ‘same-sex marriage’ the Irish Catholic electorate and politicians are relatively silent. Is it not time for uncompromising Christian witness to truth?

A fundamental legal principle is that deliberately taking innocent life is always unlawful. Is anyone more innocent than a child in its mother’s womb?

Marriage is uniquely ‘a legal contract between a man and woman to live together as husband and wife’. It is wrong that governments, or politicians, should seek to alter or destroy that reality. A same-gender sexual relationship can never truthfully be defined as marriage.

Herod had John the Baptist killed, not because he was a rabble-rouser, or a follower of Christ, but for his refusal to keep silent about the truth. Politicians would do well to ask themselves: Do crowds to go out to vote for a reed bending in the prevailing wind coming from the latest lobby group? 

When Christian politicians fail to stand up for truth, is it not time for Christian electors to stand forthright with Christ?

BRIAN ROONEY


Downpatrick, Co Down                  

A sign of insanity

The sign of insanity someone quoted was to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. This without doubt applies to the NI Executive. Sinn Féin keeps repeating the Good Friday Agreement to their partners in coalition the DUP, a party which has always shown their distaste of this agreement so much so they can’t even bring themselves to call it by its name. They refer to it as the Belfast Agreement.

Two other quotations were not an ounce and not an inch. Sinn Féin buckled on the first, the DUP is still adamant about the second.  


The differences seemingly are beyond fixing and as such having further elections to return the same parties is a sign of insanity from us all. Better to let the British and Irish governments rule peace on an ‘equality for all’ basis until they can agree a time scale for a united Ireland.

JOSEPH KENNEDY


Dunmurry, Co Antrim

Benefits from nuclear deterrents

BY renewing its trident nuclear deterrent Britain hopes to deter other countries attacking it.


If that is so then why can all countries not have this deterrent? Seems fair to me as no-one wishes to be attacked. If Ireland, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya etc had this deterrent the world today would be a much better place, as the world’s bullies would not have dared to attack any of the above.


A world at peace, no empires, no countries divided up by foreign imposed borders as the British did in Ireland and Palestine etc. No wars, no refugees, no drownings at sea and an added bonus would be all the consultants, doctors and paramedics could return to work in our NHS and the soldiers could help to build hospitals, schools etc and the billions and billions saved on manufacturing killing machines and trident would mean austerity would be no more and the war rooms in Westminster could be used to house the homeless of London.         

PETER McEVOY


Banbridge, Co Down