Readers of this blog will know that I have (probably) spent far too much time exploring the destructive tendencies of Ulster loyalism and the politics of Never, Never, Never Land.
My rationale for doing so has always been motivated by a need to confront and challenge the political cynicism and misguided anger animating some of my fellow Unionists. As I have repeatedly argued their millenarian outlook on politics may well have been facilitated by the DUP’s electoral dominance for over 20 years, though even I recognise the fact that it predates the party and will linger long into the future.
I originally broke the news of the DUP’s intent to pursue the highly destructive strategy of boycotting the power-sharing institutions as early as September 2021 but it was ignored by the media. At the time my sources close to DUP thinking confirmed the party had become increasingly swayed by a Little Ulster agenda fired up by the dire bombast of anti-Protocol elements who had taken to the streets to vent.
As I had already told the Economist earlier that year in March 2021, it was looking increasingly likely that loyalism would enter ‘a destructive lashing out’ phase. I had in mind self-destructive rioting, which typically grew out of this kind of disaffection before. Sure enough spontaneous violent outbursts would come in Derry/Londonderry, Belfast and in my old stomping ground of Cloughfern Corner. The respected journalist Sam McBride would subsequently acknowledge that I had foreseen the possibility of violence. In fact, all I did was read the mood music at the grassroots, which felt very much like it had in early December 2012 at the time of the outbreak of the so-called “flag protests”.
Indeed, keeping an ear to the ground is what has informed many of my blog posts on my website and in my articles in Fortnight Magazine. I have drawn on a diverse array of sources across Loyalism and Unionism. Some of these people have opposed the Irish Sea Border on principle, others for pragmatic reasons – however, a smaller number have done so as a way to spread their own cynical brand of politics that has little to do with Ulster and more to do with self-aggrandisement.
And, so, it is the latter clique who have again come onto my radar in recent days.
Like many others I have watched poorly attended rabble-rousing events in places close to my heart – I went to school in Ballyclare and know its people well – with dismay. The world has moved on since Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP led the DUP back to Stormont. Yet, Jim Allister MLA, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), is still stalking the Orange Halls of Ulster looking to raise an army of disaffected loyalists willing to oppose the Safeguarding the Union deal.
And it is here, on the margins of the TUV, that I’m hearing rumblings of a new formal political alliance about to be launched. One that is likely to have negative consequences for Loyalism and Unionism stuck in the cul-de-sac of despair over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
I’m talking, dear reader, of a source who has informed me that the TUV is to hitch its rickety old wagon to Reform UK.
As reported by the respected political editor at the Belfast Telegraph, Suzanne Breen, the TUV has invited the leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice, to speak at their annual party conference this weekend.
Reform UK is one of a constellation of right-wing parties that claims to want to “Make Britain Great Again!” Interestingly Reform UK is run more like a business franchise than a political party – it is, for instance, listed on Companies House as a Limited Company with Nigel Farage one of its Directors.
Reform have been in the news lately because of the controversy surrounding one of its latest joiners, Lee Anderson, who lost the Conservative Party whip for his remarks about the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Reform hopes to mop up disaffection within the Tory Party in the same way the TUV is hoping to do the same with the DUP. There is certainly evidence this is happening.
Both parties are firm believers in Brexit and have also voiced concern over immigration. Tucked away in the TUV’s 2023 manifesto is the following:
Much of the language used in the TUV manifesto is similar to that found in Reform’s own marketing. A hefty dose of nostalgia crossed with the sense of wanting to “Make Ulster Great Again!” As Reform state on their website:
“We can make Britain great again. To do this, reform is essential in the way our country is run and managed, so it works properly for the people. In many areas, just the application of basic common sense would be a good start! The nation faces many challenges, but we can overcome them. To succeed, we need to do Brexit properly. We must grow our way out of the crisis, we cannot tax our way out of it. We must stand up for our core democratic values, our civil liberties, our right to free speech. Let’s celebrate our pride in being British: our amazing culture, our unbreakable communities, our incredible heritage. Let’s stop all the woke nonsense that is holding us back. Let’s have a proper immigration policy that works for our country and protects our borders. Together, let’s make great things happen!” – Reform UK website
Reform have made the headlines for another reason beyond remarks of hard right Tories jumping ship. Earlier this month the party’s deputy leader – and former Brexit Party leader Ben Habib – came third in the by-election to the Wellingborough constituency.
It now appears likely, at least according to my source, that Habib will seek to run in a Northern Ireland constituency at the eagerly anticipated General Election, whenever that comes.
Interestingly, TUV activists assisted Habib by canvassing for him during the Wellingborough by-election. For the past two years he has been an ever greater presence at anti-Protocol rallies where he has shared the stage with the other three Horsemen of the Protocol Apocalypse: Jim Allister, Kate Hoey and Jamie Bryson. The bond between both parties has grown stronger as a result.
Despite the TUV enjoying some seepage from the DUP’s decision to return to Stormont, it is, however, unlikely to be plain sailing for Habib if he does decide to run, particularly as the two dominant Unionist parties seek ever-closer alignment.
Speaking to another source who is close to the TUV, they insisted the latest revelation would “be a shrewd move because the TUV are pretty much finished anyway.”
Will the next election see the TUV campaign under its own name or amalgamate and rebrand under the Little Britain agenda of Reform UK? As with most developments of this kind, only time will tell.
Whatever the TUV do, however, their unholy alliance with the narrow agenda of Reform is not likely to be in the UK’s national interests. As with all these populist nationalist front projects – whether Make America Great Again (MAGA), Make England Great Again (MEGA) or this latest attempt to Make Ulster Great Again (MUG-A) – they all play into the hands of those seeking to undermine the integrity of the state.
In this all three attempts to make things great again can be likened to Russian Dolls, each with an inner core of nostalgia, victimisation, anti-immigrant sentiment and ultra-nationalism.
With both the TUV and Reform UK pursuing highly disruptive political agendas post-Brexit, they could even be likened to two cheeks of the same backside, to paraphrase George Galloway MP, though the middle in this case is a fountain of anti-Globalisation, alt-right toxic waste polluting our political tributaries. Will Ulster Say No to it? We live in hope.
Ben Habib’s belated discovery (and surprise) of how much public sector activity takes place in NI does not mark him out as particularly politically astute. On the other hand, at least he won’t miss his deposit.
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/brexiteer-businessman-voices-shock-at-figures-showing-public-workers-are-paid-more-than-private-ones-northern-irelands-economy-is-fundamentally-broken-4491285
That’s a point of view. And a nationalist one at that – I don’t have to accept it.
This article is spot on!
Those hankering for nostalgia need to do some research of what this ‘nostalgia’ meant for the ordinary man and woman.
Everyone enjoys an old nostalgic movie where we get those warm feel vibes on seeing stylish old cars with large headlights and elegant running boards. Or adventurers travelling across the far reaches of the world discovering the delights of the great civilisations that the the ignorant natives simply don’t understand or appreciate.
But the ordinary man didn’t experience the life of the adventurer or get to drive the elegant car unless they were a chauffeur!
The ordinary person lived in abject poverty where hunger was an everyday reality. Where affordable food was bland and homes were cramped and cold.
Where death in childbirth was common for babies and mothers and TB, Measle, Polio and a flu epidemic could be a killers.
There was nothing nostalgic about homes where wives were routinely raped or beaten with little recourse to justice. Where people were routinely abused and imprisoned or took their own lives because they were gay. Where people lived in deference to religious orders and people who reported sexual abuse were shunned and ridiculed by the rest of society.
Where casual racism was the order of the day and people who were different were often the subject of ridicule and distain.
No I fancy a future which protects the most vulnerable over a past that didn’t!