Jeffrey at the Crossroads
Is the Union the only
reason why some working class unionist voters persist in voting for
parties like the DUP when that party clearly doesn’t represent them on social
and economic issues? In fact the DUP often acts against the class interests of
working class Protestants, Unionists and Loyalists especially those from
deprived communities, suffering from the effects of Tory policies. The
failure, thus far, of parties like the PUP and other smaller parties to
organize and to win more significant electoral support compounds this anomaly.
So does Sectarianism.
I don’t buy into the
current popular notion, based on recent opinion polls that the DUP vote is in
terminal decline. Unionism has lost its electoral majority but that could be
turned around if its leaders got their act together. The scandals involving
some of the DUP’s Assembly Ministers had a negative influence in the
last election but the DUP still emerged as the largest party.
Its difficulties have
increased since then. Its handling of the Brexit project was shambolic. The way
its Assembly team treated Arlene Foster was cowardly but then let’s not
forget that Ian Paisley also was dumped, both by the Free Presbyterian
church and the party that he founded. Edwin Potts tenure was notable only for
its brevity. Jeffrey Donaldson is now leader with a First Minister who he
cannot change and whose office he cannot occupy at this time, despite his
desire and stated intention to do so.
Of course the DUP could get
over all these problems and its electorate may forgive them when it comes to
the Assembly election. But for the first time in a long time the UUP, with its
new leader Doug Beattie, is now standing on a platform which is different from
the DUP particularly on its approach to the Assembly and the Irish protocol.
The UUP have a lot of catching up to do but its leader certainly has
articulated more positive attitudes to social rights issues than the DUP. How
that will play out remains to be seen.
Certainly a gay unionist
voter denied his or her right to marriage equality may have an electoral choice
beyond Jim Wells’ dangerous silliness.
But the UUP will also
not represent the economic or social interests of deprived Protestant Unionist
or Loyalist working class communities even if it improves its mandate.
The fact is Sinn Féin
policies are more advantageous to these communities than those of any of the
unionist parties but the majority of these folks would not countenance voting
republican in any significant numbers at this time. It’s all about the
Union and perceptions about Sinn Féin. Those perceptions won’t change in the
short term.
And the Union? The DUP say
it is being undermined by the Protocol. Everyone knows the Protocol is a result
of Brexit and everyone also knows that Brexit is a child of the DUP. But will
that affect their vote?
Jeffrey leads a party at
the crossroads. So what of Jeffrey? I won’t spend too much space here
recounting his career highs and lows or take us through the twists and turns of
his contorted narrative on all these matters. Or on his threat to pull his
Ministers out of the Executive. Or the DUP‘s absence from cross border
meetings, almost certainly in breach of the ministerial code. Jeffrey knows the
game is up for old unionism. But he also knows its not over. So he is
playing for time. He recently did an interview with Freya McClements of
the Irish Times. In it he gave some interesting insights into his view of the
country he lives in. That’s the same place we live in.
In response to a question
of whether he would move if there was a United Ireland he said no. He made it
clear he was against a United Ireland and gave his view that it was
unlikely to happen but ...
“My roots are here, this is
our home and I love this place. I love the beauty of this place. I love the
people of this place … My roots are here. They’re strong. This island is my
home and therefore when someone asks me are you Irish, I live on this island so
geographically I’m Irish but I’m part of a wider group of nations that is
British, and therefore I don’t see it as mutually exclusive, to be Irish and
British or Northern Irish and British.”
He also says and I agree
with him that unionists and nationalists do not understand each other. So
Jeffrey let us start to correct that. I am sure that the Belfast Media Group
would be delighted to do an interview with you as a means of you addressing
nationalists and republicans directly. If this can be arranged I for one would
look forward to reading what you will say.
A game of chicken
Will they, won’t they, trigger Article 16? For
those of you who don’t know what Article 16 is? It is a part of the Protocol
agreed between the EU and the British government that in the event of “serious
economic, societal or environmental difficulties that are liable to persist, or
to diversion of trade” would allow either side to effectively tear up
parts of the deal. The Tory Minister with responsibility for negotiations with
the EU, Lord Frost told the Tory party conference on Monday that the Brits
believe that the threshold for triggering Article 16 has already been met.
Speculation is intense that an announcement to take that decision may be
announced at the Tory Party conference this week.
The excuse is the sham claim that the Protocol is
having an adverse impact on the North. Apart from the Unionist parties accusing
it of eroding the North’s constitutional position within the Union all of the
available evidence points to the contrary. Public disquiet, even among
unionists, has been negligible with protests attracting only small numbers of
citizens.
In the last week our television news has been
filled with images of long lines of vehicles queuing at filling stations as
owners desperately try to buy fuel. Some of the images have been surreal and
very dangerous. One woman is seen using plastic bags to draw petrol! Others
engage in road rage and kicking cars, shouting at each other and in one
instance pulling a knife. The British Army is now deployed – never a good sign.
There aren’t enough lorry drivers. Brexit forced
many immigrant workers to leave. The British government has now invited them
back for three months but they must leave for Christmas! They are
probably expected to live in their trucks during that time. Supermarkets are
having difficulty filling shelves; there is a warning that over 100,000 pigs
might have to be culled and their bodies dumped because there are not enough
butchers. A news report on Monday said that Johnson’s government is “considering
plans to ease visa restrictions for up to 1,000 foreign butchers.” The
cost of construction has increased dramatically and the supply of some
medicines is giving cause for concern.
The reason for all of this chaos? Brexit. There may
be some other factors at play – including the incompetence of Boris Johnson and
his Cabinet - but the dominant issue creating this mess is Brexit. Boris and
his friends refuse to admit this. Why would they? After all they, and the DUP,
are responsible for Brexit. So, they need to shift the blame. It’s all the
fault of the Protocol and those nasty people in the EU and in Ireland who back
the Protocol.
The fact that Johnson and his cronies negotiated
the detail of the Withdrawal Treaty, including the Protocol is simply ignored.
So, now it’s reduced to a game of chicken. The
Brits are warning that they will take unilateral action to trigger Article
16. Will they – won’t they?
The EU says that it will legally challenge any move by the British to break an international agreement. Will they - wont they? Watch this space.
Seán Ó Riada
Seán Ó Riada was a genius. This column is certain
of that. He brought Irish traditional music out off the back kitchens,
travellers’ trailers and pub snugs and brought it centre stage and into the
concert halls and theatres of Ireland and the world. Sean died on October 3,
1971, in hospital in London, England aged 40. So the 50th anniversary of his
death is this year.
He was born John Reidy on August 1, 1931, in Cork
City and adopted the Irish form of his name, Seán Ó Riada, after becoming
interested in traditional Irish culture in the 1950s.
He studied music in University College Cork and did
further studies in classical music in Paris
He and Ruth Coughlan married and they and their
children moved to Cúil Aodh,Ballyvourney in the Cork Gaeltacht in 1963.
Seán initiated projects to perform Irish music in
ensemble form. Until then traditional musicians played music on their own or in
small groups including Ceili bands. Seán worked in Radio Éireann, as assistant
director of music, from 1952-54 and in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, as musical
director, from 1955-62.
He formed the group Ceoltóirí Chualann to perform
Irish traditional repertory for plays during this time.
The Chieftains emerged in this period and from that
initiative.
Most famously Sean wrote the fabulous music score
for the films Mise Eire and Saoirse, and for The Playboy of the
Western World. His Ceol An Aifrinn is a joy.
Seán Ó Riada’s family have continued his musical journey. Cór Chúil Aodh led by Peadar Ó Riada took Féile An Phobail by storm back in troubled times. Seán Ó Riada’s contribution to Ireland and our music and culture is immeasurable. His legacy lives on.
Tá muid fior buioch do
An O Riada.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LqWeydplUo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q3JTw472jQ
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