Orange Order facilitates regular meetings between unionist leaders on a 'range of issues' - including co-operation
The Orange Order has confirmed that it has hosted meetings between the leaders of the three main unionist parties on “various matters” – and that co-operation has been discussed.
Mervyn Gibson, Grand Secretary of the Orange Lodge of Ireland, says that the meetings have been “going on for a couple of years” – and are chaired by the Order’s Grand Master.
He said leaders have had “difficult discussions” at the meetings, and issues such as “unionist co-operation and talk about elections” have been raised – but that is not the focus of the meetings.
His comments to the News Letter come amid a disagreement between the leaders of the DUP and TUV over whether talks have been held between the pair on unionist unity.
At the weekend, Gavin Robinson said he was open to talks about “pro-Union co-operation” – adding that he had “previously met with Jim Allister and he knows we stand ready to co-operate to maximise unionist representation”.
However, the TUV denied any “one-to-one” meetings with the DUP leader on unionist unity – accusing their rivals of walking away from it when they returned to Stormont without the removal of the Irish Sea border.
Speaking to the News Letter, Mervyn Gibson said the most recent meeting was between Gavin Robinson and Jim Allister, with outgoing UUP leader Mike Nesbitt absent due to diary issues. He said unionist co-operation wasn’t the focus of the meeting, but “it comes up at them all”.
Asked if there was any detailed discussion at the most recent meeting about the next election, and who would stand in which seats, Mr Gibson said “no”.
“Somebody might have said something, but it wasn't ‘let's get down to nitty gritty’ – that’s between the parties directly.
“If they want us to get involved in doing that, we will, but I can see sometimes that's more a party issue as opposed to these general meetings.
“We’ve got down to nitty gritty before about Westminster (elections). It's much easier to do Westminster than it would be to do the Assembly elections. It’s never got down to ‘are you going to agree to this?’.
“We don’t broker the final agreement, we just set the mood music”, he said.