The News Letter’s Sam McBride has neatly [Ed – and quickly] summed up the state of the failing
A set of email exchanges outline Maginnis’ demands for action following his perceived humiliation, and Nesbitt’s offer (early this morning) to hastily restore the whip to prevent Maginnis’ resignation statement this afternoon.
One email sent by Lord Maginnis to Mr Nesbitt on 17 August after a meeting between the two men said:
I, having been ‘humiliated’ both locally, nationally and internationally by your perverse and superficial action simply to prove how your [sic] such a tough guy*# (!!!!!!)…it is now time for immediate action as I outlined:
1. Withdraw publicly from the position you have adopted — I won’t quibble about how gently you do that so long as your words are positive and clearly vindicate my behaviour.
2. Immediately (before end of August) convene a disciplinary hearing —I will caution that the person who accompanies me, though not a lawyer (which is a misguided position) will have access to the Press.
3. You tender your resignation as party leader on the basis (a) that the party has not been able to prosper under your leadership and (b) that you lack the ability to make incisive political decisions.”
An email sent this morning (28 August) from Mr Nesbitt to Lord Maginnis said that he was willing to change his “timetable” for restoring the whip and said that he now saw “no reason for delay…to offer to restore the whip. I am, therefore, making that offer.”
Following Maginnis’ resignation, UUP leader Mike Nesbitt has stated that unionist people “owe a debt of gratitude to Ken Maginnis” and said that “recent matters … could have been resolved at any time”.
Maginnis was seen as a supporter of Nesbitt at the leadership election earlier this year. Hard to imagine that Maginnis would now prefer the more liberal John McCallister to have been elected as party leader?
Sometimes it’s difficult to know whether unionist politicians are more obsessed with the Parades Commission or homosexuality?
Alan Meban. Tweets as @alaninbelfast. Blogs about cinema and theatre over at Alan in Belfast. A freelancer who writes about, reports from, live-tweets and live-streams civic, academic and political events and conferences. He delivers social media training/coaching; produces podcasts and radio programmes; is a FactCheckNI director; a member of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland; and a member of the Corrymeela Community.
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