TALK OF unionist non-sectarian politics will be “sunk without trace” if there is any truth to the reports of pacts or realignments that involves the DUP as well as the Ulster Unionists and British Conservatives, Alliance Party leader David Ford told his annual conference.
Mr Ford, the prospective minister for justice if the current justice and policing stand-off between the DUP and Sinn Féin is resolved, told some 250 delegates in the Dunadry Hotel on Saturday that politics remained in crisis “and that crisis is deepening”.
Mr Ford expressed suspicions about the recent secret talks between the Tories, the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP.
“Tories in Northern Ireland have claimed to be non-sectarian and progressive, saying that they are seeking to introduce what they describe as ‘national politics’ to our society,” he said.
“However, if there is any truth whatsoever to the talk of unionist pacts and realignments with the DUP also included, the claims of non-sectarian progressive politics are sunk without trace,” he said.
“If there are members within the ranks of the local Conservatives who genuinely believe in a shared future as a priority, I fear they are now in an impossible position,” added Mr Ford.
That was demonstrated by the weekend resignation of three local Conservatives who had been nominated to stand in the Westminster elections expected by May at the latest, he said.
Mr Ford said the political crisis was not just caused by the deadlock over the devolution of justice or the regulation of parades.
“We are in a crisis because the parties in the Executive have no shared vision, no shared values, and no plans for a shared future,” he said.
Referring to dissident republican murders of two British soldiers and a PSNI officer, Mr Ford added: “Last March, in the wake of three murders, we saw the First Minister and Deputy First Minister stand together with the Chief Constable.
“The problem was that they stood together because of what they were against, not because of what they were for.”
Mr Ford said were Alliance to take the justice portfolio then that minister must have agreement over policies from a critical mass of Assembly members if he or she were to have a chance of delivering for the people. The issue must be “about policy, not personality”.
“It is immensely flattering to have people suggest that an Alliance minister would be the best option to ensure smooth devolution of justice,” he said. “I agree with them. An Alliance justice minister would be good for Northern Ireland, but only if the circumstances are right.”
Mr Ford said First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were not delivering good government.
“We have an Executive which is dysfunctional, operating to a weak and insubstantial programme for government. It is not very good at implementing that programme and well nigh incapable of agreeing anything else. Where issues were not agreed in the programme, we have total chaos,” he said.
Mr Ford was also critical of the SDLP, in particular the Social Development Minister and candidate for the SDLP leadership, Margaret Ritchie, who reportedly threatened to resign from the Executive if an Alliance member was appointed minister for justice. Such a tactic was “tribal and stupid”, he said.
“Alliance has always been prepared to work constructively, to do what is right, not what is popular,” said Mr Ford. “While I recognise that other parties have done the same at different times, it has far too often been in an atmosphere of brinkmanship, provocation and confrontation.
“Such behaviour shows that we have only a kind of pseudo-stability in our politics, not genuine partnership. Yet some politicians don’t seem to realise that their antics don’t just threaten the political institutions, they threaten the entire peace process and give succour to the men of violence.”