"Arsing about" in the Concerto Suite
The NI Tories fringe meeting was a sweaty occasion - 60 or so activists packed into the Hyatt hotel's compact Concerto suite. Sir Reg Empey's colourful response to yet more gridlock back at home made the news. It sounded a little incongruous to hear the always polite Employment and Learning Minister accusing his colleagues of "arsing about".
Otherwise the audience generated plenty of enthusiasm for their prospective marriage, although the terms of the engagement continue to be vague. Is it a CDU-CSU type arrangement enabling two parties to share national policies but vary matters regionally? Will we see the formation of a "Conservative and Unionist Council" with UUP MPs taking the Tory whip? If so, what about the absent Lady Sylvia Hermon?
Much was made of the need to appeal to Catholic voters. A a few English Tory activists, including one prospective parliamentary candidate, declared their Catholic roots. But if the Conservatives, campaigning under their own banner, didn't appeal widely to nationalists, why should a deal with the UUP make them any more attractive?
Back in 2003 the Conservatives indicated that if elected to the Assembly they would designate as "other" - a clear attempt to appeal across the boundaries. But it's hard to imagine a Tory-UUP force not designating as "unionist". Otherwise they would come under withering fire from the DUP. They may attempt to argue that a future Conservative government will do away with the designation system altogether. If they do, that will open a whole new can of beans.
P.S. At one point during the meeting, Owen Paterson referred to the avowedly atheistic, secular NI Tory Jeffrey Peel. Jeffrey responded that "Richard Dawkins is behind us". Mr Peelk had shared a platform with the author of the "God Delusion" at another fringe meeting. It was just a throw away comment, but it made me think it would be rather good if the "new political force" could field Professor Dawkins in Strangford. I am not convinced there are many votes in atheism there, but just imagine those debates between "God's Law" and the "God Delusion". It would put Palin versus Biden in the shade.
P.P.S. I have amended the spelling of the "a" word after a comment from Susie Flood. The consensus in the office is that she is correct, although my Collins dictionary provides no definitive guidance. However, it does contain the following note, which I found illuminating.
'Arse: Dating back at least a thousand years, and taboo till around the middle of the 20th century, this venerable "Anglo-Saxon" word now seems unlikely to cause offence in all but the most formal contexts. Its acceptability has possibly been helped by such useful verb formations as "to arse about" and "I can't be arsed" '.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~19~RS~)
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Wont this likely mean two separate breeds of candidate?
A local Unionist (protestant traditionalist) and a National parliamentary one (loosely unionist, significantly conservative?) allowing for a broader appeal to the wider population of NI and strong competition for the double/triple jobbing DUP?
If Labour and the Tories can get a foothold here at the next general election for National politics it may in the longterm erode the parochial backward facing politics we have at Stormount by the following election
I'm neither a Tory nor a Unionist, but think the opportunities for looking forward that this opens can only be a good thing in the long run.
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Mark
"ARSEING ABOUT" - WHO WAS HE TALKING ABOUT?
'accusing his colleagues of arseing about'."
First of all, Mark, let me say I'm not too happy about posting to this Blog because of the amount of "arseing".
No matter, the fact is that Sir Reg's unfortunate comment applies to all Assembly members. Moreover, he may have been referring as well to Lords Laird, Magennis and Rogan who all have form in this area.
Finally, Mark, don't think that I'm being schoolmarmish but the correct spelling of the word is A-R-S-I-N-G.
There, Mark, you have me using it now.
Susie
Carryduff
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Some facts about the UUP Tory talks.
1 A merger had been discussed but the UUP were not ready to down that road.
2. What is now on the table is a formal working relationship under the NI Conservative and Unionist Council.
3 This relationship would mean joint selection of candidates who would in the case of Westminister accept the main Conservative manifesto and in the case of Stormont an NI manifesto which although Conservative in nature would be modifed to suit local NI requirements e.g. Grammar schools.
4. The Conservatives would inject funding (£40,000 has been mentioned including the 12 months run up to an election) and campaigning expertise into seats they would target as winable, probably 4-5 in the first instance, and limited amounts into less winable seats.
5. The leadership of the UUP and the exxecutive are broadly in favour of the relationship with the exception of some such as Lady Hermon and Chris McGimpsey, but are nervous of the electoral outcome.
6. The Conservatives are becoming frustrated at the lack of progress and the inability of the UUP to take a decision and the UUP are afraid to take a decision as they are unsure that it will lead them back into power and yield the promised increase in votes.
7. The one thing that is clear to both sides is that in neither camp are there a bountiful supply of people who would make professional candidates that could signal a new start in non sectarian politics. This would mean looking outside current incumbents and hopefuls to find people who would be credible candidates. This would be acceptable to the Tories but would the UUP find it palatable to ditch some of their current incumbents?
8. The UUP need the money and expertise or would probably face a slow death over coming elections as they become irrelevant so in reality have little option but to proceed to have at least a chance to get back into power.
9. The Tories need to make a breakthrough in NI and this is the time to do as power is calling in Downing Street, without the relationship it will take a long time to finally replace the UUP.
10. So what will really happen? It is probable that a deal will go ahead because both parties know it is in their best interests to make it work; money and power are powerful motivators and they are both in play in these discussions. Whatever happens in the longer term the future of the UUP is in looking increasingly unsustainable as on one hand money is in short supply and on the other a realtionship with a much bigger partner will almost inevitably end in a marriage after a short engagement.
11. The DUP are very unhappy and have been thrown off balance at the prospect of taking on a merciless machine that has the potential to derail their progress or at least apply the brakes to their progress.
12. It will be an interesting run up to the European Election, look for Jim Nicholson the Conservative and Unionist candidate to do well and cement the relationship.
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