Tom Griffin (London, OK): David Cameron cemented the Conservative Party's alliance with the Ulster Unionists today with a speech to the UUP conference in Belfast.
Ahead of the event, the Irish Times recorded nationalist concerns about the arrangement:
Peripherally, there are mutterings of concern that to cement the deal Cameron, should he become prime minister, would tinker with the British-Irish agreements that led to peace and political progress in Northern Ireland; that he might disavow the Downing Street Declaration commitment that Britain has no "selfish, strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland". Such a move would certainly cause problems, especially with Dublin, Sinn Féin and the SDLP. "We support the current agreement and want to make it work," says Paterson. He is absolutely "emphatic" on this point, he adds.
Nevertheless, the tone of Cameron's speech was a long way from that of the Downing Street Declaration:
Standing up for the Union isn't just about expressing our important feelings about our shared heritage.
It's also a rational argument based on mutual interest.
Together, we are the fifth largest economy in the world.
Together, we have a seat at the top table and are listened to in a way that other countries can only dream of.
Together, we have one of only five permanent seats of the United Nations Security Council.
Together we are a major player in the EU, in NATO and other international organisations.
And together, we have the British military - one of the most respected armed forces in the world.
Northern Ireland punches above its weight in Britain's armed forces and Britain punches above its weight in the world because of the expertise and bravery of those forces.
Indeed, nothing embodies the Union better than our military bonds.
More coverage over at Slugger which is liveblogging the event.
Comments
Tom,
Something else Cameron said today:
"I will continue to work closely and constructively with our nearest neighbours in the Republic of Ireland and I will always uphold the democratic wishes of people here in respect of their constitutional future."
OK, it's only recognising the reality that in the event of any Border Referendum deciding for an unitary Irish state, no UK government, of whatever description, is going to go against the popular will...but, still, it's an important public recognition of that reality.
All parties, without exception, in the ROI hold Irish "Unity" as an objective; the fact that they haven't shown a great deal of interest in achieving that objective is not Unionism's fault; nevertheless, they are entitled to state their belief.
Cameron is a Unionist, he's also entitled to state his belief in the advantages (which, in terms of NI, are most certainly not economic nor strategic) of maintaining the Union.
A fair point Paul. Nonetheless, I do think it reads like a repudiation of the specific 'no selfish strategic interest' formulation.
It's going to be an interesting tightrope for Cameron to walk.
Hopefully UUP MPs will do the decent thing and follow David Mundell's example of a self-denying ordinance on English matters.
Why is this man chasing votes in foreign lands anyway when he should be putting the interests of the country where his party receives the vast majority of its votes first and foremost? Fat chance of that happening with David "Scottish blood through these veins" Cameron at the helm though. He is as anti-English as his fellow traveller Brown.
Interesting that there has been no comment on Obama's comment that Cameron is a lightweight....
why is this do you think ?
You couldn’t get a much better
example of the British/London establishment’s view of the worth of the union. It’s not about what’s best for the British people – it’s all about the British establishment getting to strut its stuff on the world stage.
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