Ulster Conservatives and Unionists

As the UCUs didn't win any seats in Northern Ireland, some are suggesting that the link between the UUP and the Conservatives be abandoned.

This seems very short sighted. If the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is to survive in the long term, we need to move away from the constitutional question and onto everyday bread and butter issues. The economy is in a mess. Many people are without jobs. We need a voice in our national parliament to secure the best interests for all the people of Northern Ireland.

Bringing national politics into Northern Ireland was never going to be easy due to the history of the local parties. However long term it's a goal worth pursuing and I look forward to the UK Labour Party putting up candidates at the next election. Perhaps they won't leave the selection of candidates to the last minute!

All this of course doesn't stop Unionists working together to maximise their strength. There is nothing sectarian about Roman Catholic Unionists, Protestant Unionists and others trying to ensure that Irish or Ulster Nationalists don't succeed in their aims.

Unionism needs to be flexible. Given the journey that both the UUP and DUP have travelled, they should set up a Unionist task force to examine how to maximise the Unionist vote. This task force should also include members of the Conservatives, Labour, LibDems etc - any party interested in promoting the Union.