Peter Robinson has a dream...

[between the bridges]

Peter Robinson has a dream: a single unionist party. But for some Ulster Unionists, this represents a nightmare: the DUP destroying the UUP.

Whatever one's perspective, this holy grail in unionism comes up every so often. Remember the talks involving the UUP, DUP and Conservatives that ended in acrimony in 2010?

Indeed, Peter Robinson is talking about it again - because his party and members of the Ulster Unionist party are formally talking, apparently about closer cooperation.

One issue that concerns some of them is protecting the office of first minister from falling under Sinn Fein control, should they gain the largest number of seats at the next assembly election.

BBC News - United unionism - are we about to see a DUP and UUP alliance?

The term 'cute hoor' springs to mind, having 'outreached' for catholic voters (really liberal/moderate unionists), he now reaches for more of the UUP vote, personally i don't think he wants to absorb the UUP, he wants defectors ,wavering voter's and maybe the odd election pact. it’s a case of using the big stick (McMG as FM) to unite all forms of unionism behind dup/him to stop SF! (the fact that in so doing he would remain top dog is a mere coincidence).

[Garza]

I really do hope the UUP and DUP merge, if only to let the overdue realignment of unionissm to take place and hopefully for NI conservatives and other normal parties to have more room to get a base. There will be UUP members and a portion of UUP electorate who would NOT be happy with this, the hatred of the DUP and their young earth creationists runs deep.

I welcome the destruction of the UUP because it might beckon the future of a brighter, more secular, more normal politics.

[PO'Neill]

Peter Robinson has a dream, NI's future will be not decided by Catholics

" Figures out last month found that 49% of Northern Irish students at the province's universities were Catholics, while 35% were Protestants. Asked whether he could be Northern Ireland's last unionist first minister, Mr Robinson said: "Yes, but the assumption behind your question is that the Catholic population will not vote for unionist parties."

Catholics may vote Unionist over economy: FM - RT News

[between the bridges]

I really do hope the UUP and DUP merge, if only to let the overdue realignment of unionissm to take place and hopefully for NI conservatives and other normal parties to have more room to get a base. There will be UUP members and a portion of UUP electorate who would NOT be happy with this, the hatred of the DUP and their young earth creationists runs deep.

I welcome the destruction of the UUP because it might beckon the future of a brighter, more secular, more normal politics.

well i would welcome more secular, more normal politics, but i am not sure that the UUP are the only ones standing in the way of that!! the demise of the UUP could as easily lead to a two a party divide if SF continues on the (baby)steps to the middle ground maybe they will absorb/spilt the SDLP! And we will still be electing our donkeys by the color of the rosette.

[Garza]

well i would welcome more secular, more normal politics, but i am not sure that the UUP are the only ones standing in the way of that!! the demise of the UUP could as easily lead to a two a party divide if SF continues on the (baby)steps to the middle ground maybe they will absorb/spilt the SDLP! And we will still be electing our donkeys by the color of the rosette.

I never said the UUP were the only ones standing in the way of that goal. The SDLP and bizarrely the Alliance are standing in the way of it and in the longer run the DUP.

Unionist unity will not increase any much votes, instead people will stay at home, vote for alliance, or hopefully the NI cons.

[dazzler]

This is a natural reaction by Unionists to changing demographics.

They know that under the age of 38 there is a Catholic majority and they hope "Unionist Unity" can keep their hands on power for a little longer. However it will probably have the opposite effect.

[between the bridges]

This is a natural reaction by Unionists to changing demographics.

They know that under the age of 38 there is a Catholic majority and they hope "Unionist Unity" can keep their hands on power for a little longer. However it will probably have the opposite effect.

yeah yeah tick tock, do you thinking changing one yappy oppressed minority for another yappy oppressed minority is going to improve things?

[Desperate Dan]

Peter Robinson has a dream: a single unionist party. But for some Ulster Unionists, this represents a nightmare: the DUP destroying the UUP.

Whatever one's perspective, this holy grail in unionism comes up every so often. Remember the talks involving the UUP, DUP and Conservatives that ended in acrimony in 2010?

Indeed, Peter Robinson is talking about it again - because his party and members of the Ulster Unionist party are formally talking, apparently about closer cooperation.

One issue that concerns some of them is protecting the office of first minister from falling under Sinn Fein control, should they gain the largest number of seats at the next assembly election.

BBC News - United unionism - are we about to see a DUP and UUP alliance?

The term 'cute hoor' springs to mind, having 'outreached' for catholic voters (really liberal/moderate unionists), he now reaches for more of the UUP vote, personally i don't think he wants to absorb the UUP, he wants defectors ,wavering voter's and maybe the odd election pact. it’s a case of using the big stick (McMG as FM) to unite all forms of unionism behind dup/him to stop SF! (the fact that in so doing he would remain top dog is a mere coincidence).

Maybe he was dreaming of the missus.

[daniels]

I never said the UUP were the only ones standing in the way of that goal. The SDLP and bizarrely the Alliance are standing in the way of it and in the longer run the DUP.

Unionist unity will not increase any much votes, instead people will stay at home, vote for alliance, or hopefully the NI cons.

The delusion of the Doc. Paisley that one party would maximise the overall unionist vote, seems to persist, but logic says two parties with closer electoral support than is now the case, would more likely increase the overall unionist share. The shrinking UUP is letting the side down.

[Portstewart]

This is a natural reaction by Unionists to changing demographics.

They know that under the age of 38 there is a Catholic majority and they hope "Unionist Unity" can keep their hands on power for a little longer. However it will probably have the opposite effect.

Think you'll find the really desperate ones are the nationalists, acutely aware that demographics are getting nationalism nowhere in the polls.

Before retracting his statement, Mr O'Loan had said: “I believe that a major realignment of northern nationalism is now called for and I think that this means the formation of a new single nationalist party. The values of the SDLP and its ability to command respect and at least second preference votes across the whole community are not something that should be lost.
“In the interests of achieving Irish unity, that respect is vital.”