Should unionists unite?

DUP candidate Maurice Devenney called on the leadership of the UUP to “listen to its grassroots” on the issue of unionist unity claiming the vast majority of its supporters would be in favour of such a move.

Mr Devenney told the Sentinel it would allow the parties to run agreed candidates where feasible and therefore maximise the number of unionist seats across Northern Ireland.

But Chairman of the Foyle Ulster Unionist Association Terry Wright said that whilst his party would welcome unity as the best way of strengthening the union it would have to be based on the values of the UUP.

Speaking to the Sentinel Mr Devenney said: “Something that has come very much to the fore in the last while is the issue of unionist unity.

“I have no doubt there is a real desire within the unionist family for unionist unity whether that be at local council level, at the Assembly or at Westminster.

“Recent opinion polls have shown that almost 70 per cent of voters want to see that but I see that the UUP continues to link itself with the Conservatives and this has effectively stalled any progress on unionist unity,” he added.

“We as a party are very much open to talks on the matter and I would be very happy as a candidate for Foyle to have discussions with the UUP to that effect. Equally the party is open to talks over the possibility of achieving unity across the country in forthcoming election.

“And who could argue against any move that would increase the number of unionist seats at Westminster, the Assembly and at local council level,” he added.

Leaders of the DUP and UUP, Peter Robinson and Sir Reg Empey, were recently involved in talks on the possibility of unionist unity at Schomberg House in December. The Orange Order facilitated the meeting and Mr Devenney said it was a welcome development.

“I cannot understand, in any shape or form, why the UUP will not work with us,” he stated. “I very much welcome the work of the Orange Order in initiating a move towards achieving unity by encouraging a meeting between the two parties.

“Unfortunately, this has now stalled. But there is certainly more to be gained by the two parties working in unison.”

He said the man in the street wants the main unionist parties to work together.

“I speak to the UUP on a local level all the time and they say they are in favour of unity and want to see it. Personally, I believe the leadership of the UUP is out of touch with its grass roots and would call on the party to allow talks on the matter to continue so that we can work together to bring about a united front on which to fight future elections,” he stated.

Deputy Chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party Terry Wright responded: “I am somewhat surprised by the reported statement of Maurice Devenney, the DUP candidate for Foyle in the forthcoming election for Westminster, that he is speaking to the UUP all the time on this issue since as Chairman of the local Association I have had no formal or informal approach on the matter.

“The same can be said of other local party officers for having enquired of individuals who hold office, no one is aware of the contacts to which Maurice Devenney refers.

“In the light of this, I have to say that it is rather a peculiar method of holding discussions and further, it begs a question as to the motivation for this megaphone diplomacy. Who is it designed to benefit?

“I would readily acknowledge that there has been a desire within the electorate for some time for greater co-operation between the two Unionist parties. At election after election across all constituencies, voters have expressed this as an aspiration.

“It is right therefore that in regard to strengthening and maintaining the union, any unionist representative has to consider all the options on the table however that is not to say that each is attainable.

“However, if this public statement by Maurice Devenney is an admission and a sign that DUP representatives want to abandon the prodigal politics of the last 30 plus years, having misled the electorate for so long and having gorged on the ‘fatted calf of double and triple jobbing‘ then this can only be welcomed.

“It was the DUP who compromised unionist unity and so it is that party which will have to repair it. It is the DUP which has been the problem so it is obvious where the solution must lie.”

Mr Wright said his rivals in the DUP had learned the lessons of backfiring electoral strategies in constituencies like Fermanagh and South Belfast where a divided unionist electorate ensured nationalists and republicans were elected in the past.

“The DUP must realise, I am sure that any closer association would have to be in the context of the UUP’s values, strategy and focus. “These cannot be compromised for it is they which inform the policies which the UUP believes will build a better Northern Ireland for all.

“If DUP members wish to return to the fold from whence they came on that basis, then contact will be welcomed,” he added.