Northern Ireland

Analysis: Arlene Foster's failure to curb her MPs' dog whistling highlights bigger problems in the DUP

Gregory Campbell complained about the all-black line-up of a Songs of Praise judging panel and its contestants
Gregory Campbell complained about the all-black line-up of a Songs of Praise judging panel and its contestants Gregory Campbell complained about the all-black line-up of a Songs of Praise judging panel and its contestants

SAMMY, Ian and Gregory – the three Westminster amigos who are a law onto themselves. Hardly a week goes by without one of them saying or doing something that must make their party leader wince.

But therein lies the problem. Arlene Foster is DUP leader in name only and appears powerless to censure her MPs when they publicly challenge her authority or their conduct falls below what is expected of elected representatives.

Whether it’s criticising or flouting Covid regulations, calling for Article 16 to be triggered within days of the protocol coming into force, or engaging in what one critic called “race baiting”, the response from the DUP leadership to date has been one of consistent inaction.

Gregory Campbell’s remarks about the all-black line-up of a Songs of Praise judging panel and contestants were the latest in a long line of criticisms the East Derry MP has made about the BBC.

Read more: DUP leader urged to act after Gregory Campbell refuses to apologise for remarks about black people on Songs of Praise 

He has rejected allegations of racism and defended his initial social media post on the basis that an all-White line-up would’ve attracted similar comment. It was, Mr Campbell said, "the BBC at its BLM (Black Lives Matter) worst” and the subsequent criticism a "contrived controversy".

In the assembly on Monday, Mrs Foster said her colleague's remarks were "not a sentiment" she shared, while DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said he would not have made similar comments.

A difference of opinion in a political party, particularly one that isn’t immediately relatable to policy, is not entirely unusual but there are sensitivities around race-relations, unlike say, nuclear deterrents.

What Mr Campbell said falls significantly short of hate speech and is unlikely to result in any sanction from Westminster’s toothless watchdog but it is the embodiment of dog whistle politics, a mildly nuanced statement that will be received favourably by a sympathetic audience yet its sinister subtext can be disowned.

There’s only so long that this DUP exceptionalism can be sustained. It’s an approach that is again out of step with Britain, where such sentiments would be met with swift action from within the party.

The failure of the DUP leadership to deal with the ongoing problem of dissent and egregious mischief-making is symptomatic of broader difficulties within the party relating to direction and strategy. There’s a strong temptation to rejoice in the DUP’s difficulties but there’s also a danger that politics generally will be dragged down to its level.

Read more: DUP leader urged to act after Gregory Campbell refuses to apologise for remarks about black people on Songs of Praise