New Year message by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“As we enter not just 2020, but a new decade, honest analysis requires acknowledgement that Unionism is not in a good place. To add to the loss of its Assembly majority, Unionism has now been led into the failure of no longer holding the majority of N.I. seats at Westminster. Meanwhile the Union itself is set to be undermined by the gifting of the nationalist goal of an Irish Sea border by a Conservative Party in which trust was placed.
“An invigorated nationalism is now openly talking up Irish unification. Though much of it is froth, it is plain to me that Unionism needs to launch a concerted defence of the Union, with particular focus on education of the youth. Complacency is an enemy that must be conquered. The benefits of the Union are manifold, but must be made manifest to all.
“Renewal of attachment to the core principles of the Union is called for. ‘One Crown, One Parliament, One People’ is no mere shibboleth, but the very essence of Unionism. Its dilution through rigged devolution has not served Unionism well.
“Thus, complicity, now, in promoting above all else the return of failed Belfast Agreement devolution is not just folly, but for Unionism is self-defeating. The elevation of Sinn Fein to the top and heart of government has never been, and never will be, a buttress to the Union. Quite the reverse.
“When, as now, the price is cap in hand anti-unionist concessions, then, such complicity is indeed antithetical to preserving the Union.
“Take the concession demanded on the weaponised Irish language. However it is dressed up, those who concede such on their watch are actively complicit in the de-Briticising of this part of the U.K. Make no mistake, Irish language demands are not linguistic, but political. The Irish language is already generously feted, with its own education sector, its own north/south executive body and lavish funding. What is playing out is a political strategy of ‘Brits Out’ mentality to make unionists uncomfortable in their own land.
“So, TUV still contends that such devolution, at the price of the grace and favour of Sinn Fein, is not just not worth having, but actively subversive of the Union. It may in its short term grant of power, any power, sit comfortably with the imposter of grasping Ulster nationalism, but not with one nation Unionism.
“There never has been a time when clarity of vision was more required by Unionism. Drift on as we are and this will be a decade remembered not for centenary celebration, but for terminal decline.
“Let this not be the generation of unionists who through complacency, complicity or short-termism lost the Union.”