Public Affairs

DUP aims for national power

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd November 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
2014 DUP Conference at the La Mon House Hotel.
First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson at the party conference. The DUP set out ambitious aims for Westminster at its annual conference and also warned of much tougher times ahead in public spending. Peter Cheney reports.

All eyes were on the general election as DUP members gathered for their annual conference at La Mon Hotel on 21-22 November.

The past year had undoubtedly been an uncomfortable one for the party. The dispute between Jenny Palmer and Stephen Brimstone is still being considered by the Assembly’s Social Development Committee. While Diane Dodds was returned as MEP at the European election, the party lost its overall majority within unionism – perhaps a temporary setback but also evidence that many disillusioned voters preferred the TUV and UKIP.

The atmosphere among delegates was somewhat subdued by the passing of Ian Paisley, with tributes being led by Peter Robinson. However, most of the conference speeches were rallying calls for the party faithful as the general election approached.

“It is only once in a generation that events and electoral arithmetic conspire to put unionists at the centre of politics, not just here in Northern Ireland, but the United Kingdom as a whole,” Robinson stated.

Economic recovery was under way but he recognised that people were not yet experiencing this in their everyday lives “due to spending cuts being imposed by the Treasury”.

Real terms reductions would, he predicted, continue until at least 2020 and he cited the voluntary redundancy scheme for public sector employees – which he hoped to implement alongside a reduction in corporation tax to grow the private sector. Robinson made a point of stating: “We are not talking about any compulsory redundancies.”

He reiterated his call for structural reform at Stormont and highlighted private member’s bills on equality law, human trafficking, and pensions for severely disabled victims of the Troubles. The Haass proposals “weren’t in the interests of unionism and they weren’t in the interests of Northern Ireland.”

Robinson spoke warmly about attending the World War One centenary and D-Day anniversary services and also praised the service of local people in the armed forces – a theme that has come up in several conference speeches in recent years.

As expected, Gavin Robinson was announced as the party’s candidate for East Belfast. He is no relation to the party leader but, interestingly, a second cousin to Mike Nesbitt.

Nigel Dodds congratulated his wife and the 130 DUP councillors on their election. He also praised “our Scottish kith and kin” for their “victory over the nationalist and separatist forces in the referendum”. However, later in his speech, he acknowledged that the 45 per cent pro-independence vote would do “real damage” if it translated into a strong SNP vote next May.

Dodds criticised the “feel bad recovery” under the Coalition Government where most benefits “have so far only gone to those at the top.” Many DUP representatives, he noted, had come from working class backgrounds. His priorities for the next Parliament included a UK referendum on EU membership and full implementation of the military covenant in Northern Ireland.

The DUP’s advantage over other unionist parties, Dodds implied, was that it could hold the balance of power at Westminster next May. “We do not wish to see Northern Ireland as a spectator, kept on the periphery and treated as an afterthought,” he added. “We want to see Northern Ireland take its rightful place on the national stage.”

One of the main announcements at the conference was Paul Givan’s proposal for a conscience clause in equality legislation, arising out of the Ashers Bakery case. The issue is a genuine cause for concern among evangelicals and the DUP is, again, keen to present itself as a defender of social conservative values at the next election. The conference, though, was mainly remembered for Gregory Campbell’s comments on the Irish language which caused offence among many nationalists and perhaps undermined the cross-community support needed for this and other bills.

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd November 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
2014 DUP Conference at the La Mon House Hotel.
Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Belfast is Gregory S. Burton Interestingly the conference also heard from Micheal O’Duibh, Chief Executive of Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta, during a panel discussion on the future of education in Northern Ireland. Speakers from the Commission for Catholic Education, Integrated Education Fund, Governing Bodies Association and controlled sector steering group also attended.

Striking a much more moderate tone than Campbell, Jeffrey Donaldson reflected on the “encouraging and inspirational” way in which the World War One centenary helped people from all traditions to rediscover “how the past brought their grandparents together.” He wanted to see “a united community, where respect and tolerance are the mark of our relationships, just as they were the mark of the men from our two traditions who served side by side at the Somme and Messines.”

Arlene Foster highlighted recent job announcements as evidence of the party delivering on economic policy. She also noted that “we must be prepared to adapt and do things differently” and explained that Invest NI’s role would change from “being primarily grant giving to more of a promotion agency.”

The event, as usual, was well-organised and indicated that the party will run a disciplined election campaign next year. However, the DUP may not be contesting every seat due to the potential electoral pacts alluded to by several speakers. Fermanagh and South Tyrone and North Belfast have the lowest margins between unionists and nationalists.

The harsh criticisms normally levelled at the Ulster Unionist Party at the conference were instead mainly directed at the Alliance Party, SDLP and Sinn Féin. It will be interesting to see whether this starting point turns into a closer working relationship between the two parties in the months ahead, which could have a strong influence on how polling day unfolds.

Show More
Back to top button