Moderate unionists

We had lunch with moderate unionists, one of whom until recently, worked closely with David Trimble. Now training for the ministry, like many others in NI, he notes how theology has left its mark on how many Unionists view politics.

There are two books in the Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament. I sometimes suspect that some of our people have read the first very well but have never read the second. They tend to draw all their ideas of moral truth from the Old Testament, and seem to forget that if I have been forgiven, then others can be forgiven too.

There was some frustration with the fact that most people are simply brought up into their political world view without ever acquiring rational reasons for the political choices they go on to make in later life, with the result perhaps:

Far too much has been made of the negatives, particularly around the Agreement. I want to hear the economic case, the greater influence we might sustain through the UK in Europe, and the wider world than we could in a united Ireland. I don�t think there has to be a conflict between us. There is no reason for us to fear the south.

The Ulster Unionist party has recently moved to towards the anti agreement camp, with sense that that the liberal wing of the party has been caught �big picture� gazing. The result being that David Trimble has taken the rap for the destruction of the RUC, whilst the IRA is still intact – something particularly difficult for Unionists in more isolated rural communities.

But the lack of priority given to communication has left those in the moderate end of the party feeling as though the wider game may have passed them by.

Instead of being passive, we should have got out there more and sold the benefits of the Agreement.

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty