Alex Kane’s ego must be bruised - for weeks he’s been telling anyone who might listen that Northern Ireland Conservatives would be cut out of decision making about the future of centre right politics here - but still, his latest column is not reasoned analysis; it is an anti Conservative rant. Aside from the hysterical tone there are a number of points which need to be addressed and corrected.
Firstly, there is no great mystery about the motives behind the Conservative chairman’s letter to Tom Elliott. The UUP, at its request, has held meetings with senior Conservatives, most recently at the Conservative party Conference, to consider its proposals on further clarifying the relationship between the two parties, locally and nationally. Lord Feldman's letter was a final response to these meetings.
Conservatives, in Belfast and London, are working hard to build a strong, centre-right, pro-Union party, for everyone in the Province, which can deliver mainstream Westminster politics and compete at Stormont. Our own local party interests will always be secondary to the broader vision.
Secondly, there is no ‘disdain’ for UUP or DUP members among Northern Ireland Conservatives. While some of us were disappointed and frustrated with aspects of UCUNF, we recognise that many Ulster Unionists come from similar backgrounds and share our centre-right values and commitment to national UK politics. Lord Feldman’s letter simply suggests a less cumbersome vehicle to pursue these common interests, surely anchored to the national Conservative Party.
Despite all the problems and set-backs during the Conservatives and Unionists campaign, in 2010 over 123,000 people across Northern Ireland voted for candidates committed to taking the Conservative whip in the House of Commons. 35,000 fewer electors voted for a standalone UUP in the Assembly poll, just 12 months later, when the party fielded a much more well-known slate of candidates. Therefore the notion of a ‘toxic’ Conservative brand is patent nonsense.
The truth is that politics in Northern Ireland is changing. The focus is increasingly on jobs, health, schools and other mainstream issues, rather than the traditional preoccupations. Unfortunately the current set of parties in the Assembly has not yet caught up with this new reality.
Most of the public money spent in Stormont comes from Westminster and Northern Ireland people need strong representation there, linked to the Government and even to the opposition. The Secretary of State has provided a robust voice, achieving many things for the people of Northern Ireland, but, for the longer term, we also need local politicians at the heart of UK politics. A strong Northern Ireland Conservative and Unionist Party can offer a meaningful alternative at Stormont and Westminster. With the constitutional issue settled, we are inviting UUP members to stop defending the Union and start fully participating in it.
That’s a broad and generous invitation. It’s also about a vision for the people of Northern Ireland, rather than the political back-biting and intrigue which seem to fuel Mr Kane’s columns.