UUP publish Basil McCrea's Speech to Sinn Fein's Uniting Ireland conference

[Castle Ray]

I think it a shame that Trevor Ringland left. He is clearly a smart guy. Arlene Foster was a huge loss to the UUP. She has always impressed me hugely even if I didn't agree with her about power sharing with SF which she eventually bought into.

Ringland is a bit arrogant and not a people person. Foster is the best calibre of all the unionists after Robinson. Robinson is a master strategist but hasn't the charisma. Foster's charisma is ok but enhanced because of her gender as it makes her softer but she's one tough cookie. I think her view on power sharing with SF at that time was correct as they effectively had a private militia up to all sorts and they didn't support law and order. It's a very different SF from 2003.

[Mickeymac]

I think it a shame that Trevor Ringland left. He is clearly a smart guy. Arlene Foster was a huge loss to the UUP. She has always impressed me hugely even if I didn't agree with her about power sharing with SF which she eventually bought into.

You unionist guys amuse me, missed the boat a few years ago in not forming a new party with Lady Sylvia who graced the White House with her presence, was treated as an acceptable sort, unlike the rabble they have nowadays......would you invite tom into your house with his bigoted cronies, I sincerely hope Mrs Obama does not.

[Johnny Boy]

Ringland is a bit arrogant and not a people person. Foster is the best calibre of all the unionists after Robinson. Robinson is a master strategist but hasn't the charisma. Foster's charisma is ok but enhanced because of her gender as it makes her softer but she's one tough cookie. I think her view on power sharing with SF at that time was correct as they effectively had a private militia up to all sorts and they didn't support law and order. It's a very different SF from 2003.

To be honest, I think the decomissioning thing was a red herring. I think it was David Ervine who said that rust would eventually decommission weapons. To me it was pretty obvious that the vas majority of IRA people were heartily sick of the lives they were being forced to lead and wanted a settlement, so by the turn of the century I was always convinced that the SF leadership were sincere. I think their refusal to decommission was always about saving face tbh rather than keeping open some sort of Plan B.

[Castle Ray]

To be honest, I think the decomissioning thing was a red herring. I think it was David Ervine who said that rust would eventually decommission weapons. To me it was pretty obvious that the vas majority of IRA people were heartily sick of the lives they were being forced to lead and wanted a settlement, so by the turn of the century I was always convinced that the SF leadership were sincere. I think their refusal to decommission was always about saving face tbh rather than keeping open some sort of Plan B.

The rule of law was the important thing. The guns might have been in their stores but the IRA was still active in robberies, crime, and indeed murders. You can't have an organisation like that in government regardless of how sincere they appeared saying they wouldn't plant a bomb or shoot people again. The majority of the pro-Union community agreed with that position which Foster held and the collapse of the UUP accelerated. Decommissioning of weapons took place and SF eventually was dragged kicking and screaming to support the rule of law. Elapsed time has helped the situation and saved face for entrenched politicians on both sides.

[Mickeymac]

The rule of law was the important thing. The guns might have been in their stores but the IRA was still active in robberies, crime, and indeed murders. You can't have an organisation like that in government regardless of how sincere they appeared saying they wouldn't plant a bomb or shoot people again. The majority of the pro-Union community agreed with that position which Foster held and the collapse of the UUP accelerated. Decommissioning of weapons took place and SF eventually was dragged kicking and screaming to support the rule of law. Elapsed time has helped the situation and saved face for entrenched politicians on both sides.

If it were not for the IRA, a peace settlement would have been impossible, ask the Brits if you think i'm a lyer.

[Cruimh]

If it were not for the IRA, a peace settlement would have been impossible, ask the Brits if you think i'm a lyer.

if it were not for the IRA a peace settlement would not have been necessary .....so yes, in one sense a settlement would have been impossible.