Dup must be honest with us about betrayal

I CONTINUE to draw attention to the ambivalence of the DUP as it takes up a position in public with a foot in both camps in relation to Boris Johnson’s controversial Brexit deal.

Party headquarters has muzzled the grassroots and it’s hard to judge if their silence indicates resignation or consent. It’s a stark choice between loyalty to the country or the party.

You just keep hoping it will shake off its constraints, break free and think for itself: it owes it to the electorate.

Boris betrayed the DUP and it has been forced to rethink its position, but it needs to be honest with the electorate (and itself) and ask serious questions.

Has unionism become a cult? Is it dignified to cling to “mother Britain’s skirts” when she’s trying to shake you off and get you to take your first steps?

If we have courage and harness our talents it will earn respect and our enemies, on both sides of the Irish Sea, will be forced to listen.

The DUP has now accepted the reality of joint rule and welcomes Irish ministers to Stormont to discuss Northern Ireland affairs. It was conned and is now trying to make the best of it.

I would just like it to be honest and take us into its confidence. I would have more respect for it if it would challenge our community to stop living in denial and alert them to their danger. We will continue to take the easy way out if it’s open to us.

If the DUP is not up for the challenge, we can only hope and pray that leaders will emerge from within the community who will blow the trumpet of truth and sound a wake-up call.

This is no time for sabre-rattling. We need to play hardball and negotiate a future for ourselves that our children, our faith and culture will flourish on the island of Ireland.

CLIVE MAXWELL Bleary, Co Armagh