Conservatives urged to break link with UUP

It has been revealed that the Ulster Unionist Party has objected to the logo and colours chosen for the new Conservative and Unionist Website.  The result of that objection has meant that all references to the UUP have been removed from the website for the time being.

My understanding is that Ulster Unionist counter-proposals for branding are not acceptable to the Conservatives either. 

The disagreement follows difficult negotiations on the agreement of the name on the ballot paper and agreement that the name “Conservatives and Unionists” was acceptable as the short description.  

As a Conservative supporter, I have waited patiently for the two parties to reach agreement.  An inordinate amount of time was taken to reach the agreement in November.  Acute difficulties occurred on reaching agreement of the name on the ballot paper.  As well as that, there are far more contentious obstacles to be overcome to achieve a credible joint campaign strategy.  

In reaching agreement over the name on the ballot paper, the Conservatives made compromises which brought them very close to the limit of what they were able to agree without becoming unelectable as a cross – community party. 

Having observed the progress of matters and seeing the difficulties we have reached getting this far and having considered my own observations of the Ulster Unionist Party and its politicians over the last few months, I have reached a view, reluctantly, that this joint political venture is destined to failure.  

Even if we were to overcome the disagreement on logo, their determination to hold on to so many strands of their identity – without having sufficient insight in order to appreciate the need for change – is perhaps an indication that they do not share our vision.  As I have indicated, there are more difficult matters which need to be agreed upon in order to formulate a credible campaign strategy.  I do not see the UUP agreeing to making the changes necessary to become electable 

Accordingly, as a conservative member and with a heavy heart, I make a request to my party to break off the agreement with the Ulster Unionist Party.

UPDATE 19th April 2009

Since this post was first written, much water has passed “under the bridge.  I wish to make it clear that my call for our party to withdraw from the agreement was made as a result of limited information given, which I should not have been privy to.  Shortly after the resignation of Jeffrey Peel a few days after the post, I was more enlightened and withdrew my own call to break the agreement.  Since then, matters have gone from strength to strength and I am very pleased to note the progress that has been made.

First Minister should call all parties holding ministerial offices for a review of the budget

At a business breakfast in Lisburn, the First Minister, Peter Robinson, gave a speech which was directed towards politicians in the Assembly who might be critical of NI Government spending plans and the setting of the budget.

MLAs who are suggesting more expenditure for particular projects came under fire. I quote directly from the report in yesterday’s Belfast Telegraph

“Instead of grand-standing and proposing areas which would benefit from greater expenditure I challenge those who want changes to make suggestions and proposals concerning where across the public sector we can free-up additional resources to divert to projects which can directly assist Northern Ireland through the economic problems,” he said.

“The days of asking for more money in one area without considering the implications for another are over. Some projects that are presently planned may be worthy projects in themselves but may not be justifiable in the present circumstances when the need to get our economy moving is the priority,” the First Minister added.

There are plenty of matters on which I disagree with Mr. Robinson.  On this particular point, he is correct.  In fact, a statement like this was very much overdue.  MLAs are not responsible for setting the budget.  However, it is their duty as politicians to take into account the National interest.  That means addressing political problems with a balanced view, taking into account the limits of funding available from Government.  If too many MLAs fail in this regard, the Assembly will never mature as a political arena.  Indeed elections would be reduced to a race to become the favourite Uncle who dishes out the goodies.

My approval of Mr. Robinson’s speech on Friday ends there.  The next part of it refers to the setting of the budget.  Again, I quote from the Belfast Telegraph:

“Those who glibly talk about the need for a new budget possibly mean that we should consider re-allocations. This can be done at Executive level but there is even greater opportunity within departmental budgets… This is the time for Ministers to critically review everything that their departments are doing and ask if this represents the best use of public expenditure in the present circumstances.

“In some departments money could quickly be redirected into the construction sector to address long-standing maintenance needs and away from less urgent priorities. When added to the considerable amount that is already being done this could make an important contribution to keeping this sector working,”

In a previous post, I argued that Nigel Dodds was wrong not to discuss re-setting the budget with the other parties.  Mr. Robinson’s words “This can be done at executive level” may be an indication of a partial “U” turn and a real recognition that there is indeed a “black hole” in the budget figures. However, Mr. Robinson’s main emphasis was on the need for individual departments to come up with their own savings.  This suggestion will not work.  It pre-supposes that individual Ministers, who have elections to think about, will take a global view of the budget on their own.  Their priority will be to present themselves in the best possible light as individual ministers, rather than as part of a government team.  It is a fair bet that they will spend all the money that is available to them.  This highlights a defect in the Power Sharing system, but we are stuck with it for the near future.

The only way that significant savings are likely to be made is if the Executive meets together and re-negotiates the budget holistically and not merely with a view to re-allocating.  Actual spending cuts are very likely to be needed.  The UUP have already offered to participate in a budget review.  So should all the other parties.  It is the responsibility of the First Minister to invite the other parties holding ministerial offices to such a review.  He may yet grasp that he has to do that.