The News came through yesterday evening that councillor Deirdre Nelson of Ballymena had defected from the DUP to the Conservative Party.
At the same time, it was announced that Councillor Harry Greenaway of Dungannon & South Tyrone has defected from the DUP to the UUP. Strangely, the Belfast Telegraph only reported Greenaway’s defection. There was no report about the defections in the Newsletter or the Irish News either. I am glad to say that at least the BBC has reported it.
Until now, the defections between the unionist parties that I recall were from the UUP to the DUP. In November 2003, Jeffrey Donaldson, Arlene Foster and Nora Beare defected from the UUP to the DUP. It is wonderful to see the first signs of that trend being reversed. Both of these defections are undoubtedly a blow for the DUP although they will be thankful that most of the unionist press is keeping quiet about it.
I do not yet know much about Deirdre Nelson. She has her own website and her profile is interesting to read. What pleases me most is her statement, reported on the BBC, that she wishes to move away from sectarian politics.
Deirdre is very welcome to our Party.
Filed under: Conservative Party, Deirdre Nelson, DUP, sectarianism, UUP Tagged: | Conservative Party, Deirdre Nelson, DUP, European Elections, Northern Ireland politics, sectarianism, UUP
Mrs Nelson on Slugger:
“Sammy Morse is spot on about the London papers and their lack of understanding. Wee Reg has been dreadful over the past week or so and if the Conservative Party is taking advice from him or Lord Trimble then God help us.
I’m inclined to think we need P+J devolved but please can someone tell me how it’s going to be funded- I’m not ideologically opposed, just worried about the bills….
Also, until the Tory Party understand more about NI they should stay on the mainland and play there. A ham-fisted security reponse and over-reaction by the Briish will do massive damage here, short and long-term.
Also agree with comment about them shooting police regardless- look at deprived areas elsewhere.”
http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/2-dup-councillors-jump-ship-tonight/P25/
China China,
I do not believe in making politicians, who defect to our party, a hostage to fortune just because of what they said on the other side. As a DUP member, Mrs. Nelson was committed to seeing off the Tory Pary so please do not blame her for saying the right thing, tactically, when she was a member of that party.
It is what is in her heart that really matters. I have alreay said I did not know her well. She has said what she has said about sectarianism and that is a good start. For now, I welcome her into the party and I refuse to judge her on the basis of what she said in the past.
[...] is Parsley not moving to the UUs? Deirdre Nelson didn’t move to the UUs either. (I wonder how many new members the Tory party now has following the UCUNF [...]
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