Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Voters just do not leak a divided party
WAS Sir Jeffrey Donaldson considering a move to rejoin the UUP in the weeks before he became DUP leader? The prospect has set tongues wagging at Stormont after the Nolan Show reported claims he was at one stage involved in discussions with Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie.
While the very idea raises many questions, it is important to consider the context.
The approach from the UUP happened last year during a time of unprecedented turmoil within the DUP following the ousting of Arlene Foster as party leader.
Sir Jeffrey’s razor-thin defeat in the subsequent leadership election left many making dire warnings for the party’s future with Edwin Poots at the helm.
There was anger over how Mrs Foster was treated and the conduct of the leadership contest.
Senior figures including Sir Jeffrey memorably walked out of a tense meeting to ratify Mr Poots’ leadership. Some councillors and members quit as the divisions escalated.
In a ministerial reshuffle, there was little sign that the Poots leadership was extending an olive branch to the Donaldson camp as senior figures were sidelined.
It therefore stands to reason that Sir Jeffrey during this turbulent time would have been considering his next steps, either within or potentially outside of the DUP.
All this could be viewed as academic. After all, Sir Jeffrey ultimately became DUP leader within weeks when Mr Poots’ ill-fated tenure imploded. However, questions remain for the Lagan Valley MP.
Sir Jeffrey says he was approached by the Ulster Unionists and “politely declined their invitation”. But did he decline straight away?
A “top secret” meeting between Sir Jeffrey and Mr Beattie was held in an Army barracks with talks lasting more than 90 minutes, sources told the Belfast Telegraph.
Was this to discuss the possibility of Sir Jeffrey rejoining the party he quit almost two decades ago?
Sir Jeffrey has said the “portrayal” that he had discussions about re-joining the UUP was “nonsense”.
The DUP leader said any discussions he has had with the Ulster Unionists “focused on the future of unionism and need for closer unionist co-operation”.
Some observers have questioned this narrative, asking what authority
The question is who is leaking to some in the media against Sir Jeffrey?
Ah, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on ....
Sir Jeffrey would have had to undertake discussions on unionist unity after losing out to Mr Poots in the leadership contest.
The main question in all of this is, who is leaking to some in the media against Sir Jeffrey?
It could be elements of the UUP. It hardly hurts the party to play up a story that the leader of its main rival had once considered jumping ship.
The idea that it was welcoming Sir Jeffrey into the fold does however further confuse where the Ulster Unionists stand on issues like Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol.
The UUP has so far refused to be drawn on speculation out of respect ahead of the funeral of DUP MLA Christopher Stalford, but Mr Beattie will eventually have to respond.
However, this is only the latest sign of briefing against Sir Jeffrey’s leadership of the Democratic Unionists.
Last week, before DUP MP Sammy Wilson was booed during an anti-protocol rally in Co Armagh, the party was dealing with reports that it was softening its stance on the Irish Sea trade border.
This will point many towards disaffected Poots supporters, still sore from the fallout of the DUP leadership contest, as the source of the briefings. It is a further reflection of the internal divisions the DUP has been having in recent months.
The party has still not ratified its election candidates after a dispute over Mr Poots not being chosen for South Down.
And although it would have been cancelled anyway in light of Mr Stalford’s death, the DUP conference scheduled for this weekend had been postponed until later in the year.
For the DUP, its focus this weekend will be on mourning the loss of their South Belfast MLA who died suddenly last Saturday.
But afterwards the party will be seeking to put last year behind them and concentrate on their message to voters.
The deep wounds from those turbulent few months clearly have not healed. The DUP will know it needs to quickly resolve these problems – because divided parties do not win elections.