Opinion

Tom Kelly: Spring has not quite sprung up at Stormont

If Alliance had a couple of ropey days, the Ulster Unionists must feel as if they should have stayed under the duvet for the entire week

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly is an Irish News columnist with a background in politics and public relations. He is also a former member of the Policing Board.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 24/01/2024 Retired British Army colonel Tim Collins is to run for the Ulster Unionists as their North Down candidate in the next general election. Col Collins is best known for his role in the Iraq War in 2003. The last time an MP from the party was elected to North Down was 2010. The current MP for the constituency is Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry, who first won the seat in 2019. following the retirement of independent unionist Lady Hermon. Pictured with UUP leader Doug Beattie Talks were reportedly taking place among unionist parties in a bid to find an agreed single unionist candidate but the UUP leader Doug Beattie says his party "does not do pacts".
UUP leader Doug Beattie (right), who served under Tim Collins in the army, stood up to take the media heat for his former commander and would-be North Down MP by answering questions about an interview on BBC’s Talkback
By Tom Kelly

It wasn’t a great week up at Stormont. Spring has not quite sprung.

The official opposition found themselves talking to empty benches, as the Executive parties seem to believe they can escape legislative scrutiny by choosing not to turn up for debates. This cut and run strategy won’t wash.

Whilst the backdrop of collaborative images and soft-spoken phrases from the first and deputy first ministers is welcome, it also masks all-too-real tensions within the Executive. This is after all a shotgun marriage arrangement.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill (left), Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly (right) and Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald announced details of Stormont’s budget at Stormont Castle.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill (left), Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly (right) and Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald announce details of Stormont’s budget at Stormont Castle. Picture: David Young/PA Wire (David Young/David Young/PA Wire)

The Alliance Party lost an MLA without so much as a blink of an eye and then got into an acrimonious spat with their DUP Executive colleagues over the nature of relationships and sexuality education proposed for schools. As this is likely to run, harmony counselling for both sides may be required.

But if Alliance had a couple of ropey days, the Ulster Unionists must feel as if they should have stayed under the duvet for the entire week.

First of all there was the incredible interview with would-be Ulster Unionist MP for North Down Tim Collins.

As a keen observer of all things political (and despite North Down voters sometimes electing mavericks), Collins never seemed like an electoral coup for the UUP. Perhaps more of a cuckoo?

He doesn’t even live in North Down, or Northern Ireland, and by the tone of his views, he hasn’t got much of political radar.

Military types often don’t get modern politics. They live in a hierarchical world or, as squaddies would say, “an environment where excrement flows downhill”.

Back in the day, a military background was regarded as an asset for any aspiring unionist: Captain Terence O’Neill, Major Chichester-Clark, or the philandering former Grand Master of the Orange Order Captain Lawrence Percy Orr.

Thankfully the era of Colonel Blimps is nearly over.

In hindsight, Mr Collins was clearly not ready for media but ultimately he was condemned by his own unfiltered words.

Doug Beattie, who served under Collins in the army, stood up to take the heat for his former commander by going on BBC’s Talkback.

The UUP North Down candidate Tim Collins makes some coments which are later described by leader Doug Beattie as 'clumsy'
The UUP North Down candidate Tim Collins made comments in an interview which were later described by party leader Doug Beattie as 'clumsy'

Beattie is one of life’s bonhomies and if anything, way too open as a politician. The interview was calamitous and turned a bad situation into a catastrophic one. Alliance MP Stephen Farry has now gained an electoral bounce thanks to this unexpected ‘Beattie Bonus’.

Last week, the popular Robin Swann also finally reached the obvious conclusion that being an MLA in one constituency whilst running for Westminster in another – and trying to hold down ministerial office at the Department of Health – something had to give.

As pointed out previously, recently-returned MLAs considering running for Westminster so soon after the restoration of Stormont will be rightly viewed with some public scepticism. Even more so, if those MLAs hold ministerial office.

Health Minister Robin Swann (left), UUP leader Doug Beattie (centre) and UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt
Health Minister Robin Swann (left) with UUP leader Doug Beattie (centre) and MLA Mike Nesbitt (David Young/PA)

Sinn Féin called it right by saying none of its ministers will be running for parliament. Soon the justice minister may have to make a similar judgement call.

To put a nail in this bad week, Minister Swann couldn’t agree to the new Executive budget and his party voted against it.

Doug Beattie never wanted to enter the new Executive and for once he was right.

Doug Beattie never wanted to enter the new Executive and for once he was right

The sole purpose of the UUP in the government is provide a mudguard for the DUP tractor. Voting against something as serious as a budget whilst remaining in the Executive looks foolish because it is foolish. The Ulster Unionists need to regain some political dignity by leaving and joining the SDLP on the opposition benches.

In the meantime Beattie should advise would-be unionist candidates for parliament to ignore the writings of philosopher and politician Edmund Burke, who famously chided his Bristol voters that they were electing a member to parliament – not a representative. Unsurprisingly he didn’t maintain their confidence.