Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BEATTIE’S BATTLE PLAN TO SAVE THE ULSTER UNIONISTS FAVOURITE SETS OUT STALL
» Pact with DUP a non-starter » Disband loyalist council call
DOUG Beattie says he won’t enter into a pact with the DUP, will not be taking advice from the Loyalist Communities Council – and loves the Irish language but won’t support an Irish language act.
Speaking a day after declaring himself a contender for the leadership of the UUP, he also said all paramilitaries needed to go away for good.
Former Army officer Mr Beattie said: “If I meet the Loyalist Communities Council, the first thing I will be asking them is when they will be disbanding, and when they will be leaving people alone and getting their foot off the necks of people in Northern Ireland.
“Let’s not tar all loyalism as paramilitary groups.
“There is no place in our society today for any paramilitary groups. If they are here, they need to go.”
The prospective UUP leader ruled out the possibility of a single unionist party in Northern Ireland and closer co-operation with the largest unionist party, the
DUP. Mr Beattie said: “We can want the same destination but we can go about it in a different way, and we have gone about in a different way because we have brought about solutions.
“We haven’t sucked our teeth and stood there with our hands in our pockets.
CHALLENGE
“Our job is to challenge them and to stand on our own two feet, and we will challenge the DUP on things we know they have got absolutely wrong.
“We will challenge them at every single level. There will not be one unionist party, that is fact.
“It does not help unionism for the DUP and the UUP to come together.”
The liberal progressive says he believes if he was elected leader he hoped to attract nationalist voters, but ruled out support for an Irish Language Act.
He added: “I absolutely love the Irish language, it’s part of our culture, it’s part of our heritage, it needs to be funded, it needs to be protected, it needs to be cherished. I have no issue with the Irish language – my issue is with an Act,
What is being proposed could end up driving division
We will challenge them on things they have got wrong ON APPROACH TO DEALING WITH DUP
Changes carried out in dark corners is not for us DANNY KENNEDY UUP CHAIRMAN
When will they leave people alone and get off their necks? ON DEALING WITH PARAMILITARIES
because what is being proposed could end up driving more division in Northern Ireland.
“We can literally have people driving down one street, where signs and services are in English and Irish, and driving down another street where signs are in English and Ulster Scots. To me that is divisive.
“So what I want to do is take the politics out of the Irish language and try and close that gap.”
By Monday evening the Upper Bann MLA was the only contender in the running to replace Steve Aiken.
He has been widely linked to the job since the outgoing announced his intention to resign on Saturday.
Mr Beattie paid tribute to Mr Aiken for his courage in taking the “not easy” decision to step down.
He said: “I am grateful for his leadership and his friendship and I am glad that he will remain both an MLA and active member of the Ulster Unionist Party.” The decorated military veteran said he recognises the party and country face real challenges now and
ON OPPOSITION TO IRISH LANGUAGE ACT
in the future.
He added he wants to present “modern, progressive” pro-union politics.
Mr Beattie said: “It is not enough to sit back in defence of the union, it is time to reach out to promote the union and all its benefits.
BELONGING
“In doing so we can make Northern Ireland a place where people want to live regardless of identity, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity.
“I want to build a union of people where everyone feels comfortable being who they want to be with a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose.
“I want to represent a pro-union politics that offers a modern, progressive vision for the future of the UK.
“I want to build a Northern Ireland where everyone is able to enjoy a true peace and its benefits, not just the absence of violence.” Mr Aiken’s resignation, 10 days after DUP leader Arlene Foster was forced to quit following an internal party move against her, has thrown political unionism into further turmoil.
The announcement was prompted by mounting discontent within the party over his stewardship.
Mr Beattie and former firefighter Robbie Butler, another MLA who has been linked with a bid to be party leader, stood with Mr Aiken as he spoke to the media in Stormont on Monday.
But Mr Butler refused to be drawn on his intentions, instead paying tribute to Mr Aiken.
Delivering his resignation statement, South Antrim MLA Mr Aiken, a former submarine commander, said he was
“aware of my limitations”.
He said: “I have taken this difficult decision because, more than ever, unionism and those in Northern Ireland who believe in the union need a clear political voice.” He said that the UUP had delivered for the people of Northern Ireland, but added: “I am, however, self-aware enough to realise that our party, despite our strengths, is not breaking through – I am also very aware of my limitations, and despite successes over the past 19 months I realise that a change in leadership is needed.”
Mr Aiken has said he will stay in position until a successor is found.
He said there is a place for a “strong, progressive and inclusive” unionist party in Northern Ireland. Mr Aiken
added: “That party is the UUP. Our party has delivered for the people of Northern Ireland for many years and, in the centenary of Northern Ireland, continues to do what is right – not just for unionists, but for everyone.
“If anyone doubts our credo of country over party look at how we took the health portfolio when all others avoided it – and I think we are all glad of not just our excellent health professionals, but also for the inspired leadership of Robin Swann.
“Having been in many command positions before, I know the critical point when a change is needed, for the greater good and for a reinvigoration of the fight, and that time is now.”
UUP chair Danny Kennedy said the change in leadership in the party would not be carried out in the same way as the DUP. He added: “Not for us the nastiness of leadership changes carried out in dark corners like the DUP removing Arlene Foster, who frankly was deserving of better.”