From the Ramada to the Waterfront
I indulged in a spot of "double jobbing" today. I started the day contributing to our live coverage of the UUP conference at the Ramada hotel in South Belfast. Then I rushed off to the Waterfront hall in the city centre. No, it wasn't for a re-run of the UUP election contest held at the Waterfront in September. Nor was I purchasing tickets for Flash Harry, who is playing the hall later this month. Instead I got into the Christmas mood with the Ulster Orchestra's annual performance of "The Snowman", an extremely enjoyable annual treat.
Flash Harry might be concentrating on the Waterfront, but he did feature in the proceedings at the Ramada, with the UUP chair David Campbell labelling him "Flash in the Pan Harry" because of his lack of durability. The leader, Tom Elliott, didn't mention any of the Westminster candidates who have quit by name. But in an ad libbed section of his speech he appeared to share Mr Campbell's sentiments, paying tribute to life long members in the hall "who haven't given up, and don't run off just because they don't get what they want on one day".
Not all UUP members were comfortable, though, with the criticism directed at their former colleagues. When I asked the moderate East Londonderry candidate Lesley Macauley about them she made it clear that "they are still friends of mine".
Although Tom Elliott is no Barack Obama, I thought his delivery and presentation had improved. That said he still has to wrestle not just with the recent resignations but also with the legacy of decline visa-vi the DUP.
As suggested in my last entry the UUP's future relationship with the Tories remains a live issue. The UUP Deputy Leader John McAllister told us on "The Conference" that the Secretary of State Owen Paterson had assured him that the Conservatives would not run candidates against the UUP in next May's Assembly elections. But that's not the message which came from local Tories on the fringes of today's conference. They are obviously champing at the bit to announce their candidates.
Conservative HQ will have to sort this one out - watch out for a fudge which might see some local Tory candidates running, albeit with pledges of non-hostility and mutual voting transfers.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~37~RS~)
I'm 
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Mark,
My, you appear to be quite the Flash Harry fan I see!
Despite Elliot's apparent improvement, during the UUP conference, his biggest problem is not the DUP nor the resignations, but himself. Ironically, his is the only resignation required to help solve a lot of his issues. Considering the UUP is copying the DUP, was there a Sammy Wilson counterpart presentation? As in, a guy who's really trying to be a comedian, and everyone pretending he is a comedian, bad jokes a perhaps a sing-song from Reverend McCrea? I'm sure the UUP know how to have their own craic.
OK, I'll be honest, I quite like the idea of the UUP imploding like this, it feels like poetic justice, I just want to have it firmly established that I can say "I told you so" come election time.
Love, PieMan
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"Conservatives would not run candidates against the UUP in next May's Assembly elections.
Conservative HQ will have to sort this one out"
Be in no doubt, this is not a live issue any more. Its sorted. We run, Simple.
Strange of Campbell and Elliot criticising those who leave because they have no "durability" - is this the same Campbell who entered a fully fledge link up, completely and utterly mishandled it, don't like the results, don't like the way its looking and so walk away yet still want a link of some sort ......you couldn't make this stuff up.
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100% agree with comment 2 - bunch of hypocrites. The NI torys should stand at the next election and not be bullied by the UUP or David Cameron into anything else!
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Flash Harry , Ringland , etc - massive backing from media yet all losers where it counts at the ballot box.
Gone and soon forgotten.
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"UUP chair David Campbell labelling him "Flash in the Pan Harry" because of his lack of durability." A big mistake by the UUP putting an ole hand like Sammy Gardiner over Harry Hamilton, he received a very credible percentage of the vote at the last election and also the TV program about him showed him in a favorable light, so, why oh why, have the UUP deselected him; on his resignation, its a loss to the UUP. Furthermore, the comments made by David Campbell were unhelpful; does this party want to recover their voting public? if so they are going the wrong way about it.
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