Speech by TUV Councillor and North Antrim Assembly candidate Timothy Gaston:
Mr Chairman, officers, ladies and gentleman – thank you for the warm reception – it is great to be in South Antrim – a key target seat for us in May.
What a great year it has been for TUV – where do I begin?
Cllr Cooper has already highlighted the key issues that have arisen from the Paramilitary report. Conference – did the revelation that the IRA was still in existence shock you?
NO
Did the revelation that the Provo Army Council directed Sinn Fein come as a surprise to you?
NO
Did you believe that the IRA had decommissioned all its weapons and had become peaceful butterflies?
NO.
Ladies and Gentleman – TUV never swallowed the lies. We have always maintained that IRA were still in existence, that they still had access to weaponry, and that Sinn Fein were simply the pawn of the Army Council.
This report is vindication for all that TUV has stood for. That Sinn Fein are not fit for government. They were not fit in 1998, nor in 2007, and they most certainly are not fit for government in 2015.
Some people may listen to this speech and say TUV are gloating – there is nothing to gloat about that an armed and active terrorist organisation are sitting in the government of our beloved province.
It is embarrassing that other unionists have either swallowed the lie or peddled it.
I take no enjoyment from reporting the truth – it is TUVs duty to be honest with the people of Northern Ireland and we can, hand on heart, say we have done just that.
As already outlined for you today, it was confirmed that the IRA were in existence and operational. Why then, are they still in government as we meet here today?
You will hear much made of the fact that Sinn Fein have a mandate. Yes, they have a mandate to be in the Assembly, but no party short of having an overall majority can have a mandate as of right to be in government. If a unionist party had a backbone – they would withdraw their support for the undemocratic institutions and ensure Sinn Fein are no longer allowed to exercise their wreckers mandate in the heart of government.
It is a sad reality that today – after all we have heard – other unionist parties have given Sinn Fein another get out of jail free card.
Gregory Campbell summed up how low it has sunk – when asked why after all the posturing they still sat in government with Sinn Fein / IRA he said:
“Because we can’t get them out.”
That is false, but it reveals the DUP mindset. Other unionist parties covet political office so much they will sacrifice principle to remain in power.
TUV say that is unacceptable.
TUV say there is a better way.
In 2007 when this party was formed we did that not to seek power for ourselves, but to stand up for the right of everybody in Northern Ireland to have a democratic government.
The right for everybody to institutions that were based on democratic norms, having a government of the willing instead of a forced government; having an opposition to hold those in government to account – only then would we have stable and durable devolution.
TUV was not just vindicated by the paramilitary report – we have been vindicated on a daily basis when people look at the shambles of a government we have. We have mapped out why Stormont will continue to lurch from one crisis to the next – and we will also map out how we move forward.
Mr Chairman –
TUV has made a positive contribution to Northern Ireland.
We are making a difference to the lives of many people where we have been given the opportunity to do so.
Our party leader Jim Allister has put his shoulder to the wheel for the last 5 years in Stormont so that people know that TUV is about hard work and dedication to the cause.
But it down to the people in this room to ensure that we get the electoral rewards we deserve. You, friends, will have to put your shoulder to the wheel to get TUV MLAs elected across Northern Ireland. Yes Jim Allister has done a superb job but think of what multiple TUV MLAs could achieve.
So raise the funds and put in the ground work. That is my challenge to YOU today.