Budget wrangle brings opposition closer.
Sorry for the slow blogging this week. Part of the reason was a trip to watch Liverpool succumb to FC Braga in the Europa League. Anything must be cheerier than that, even Northern Ireland politics, and in that spirit I direct you toward my piece in Wednesday's Belfast Telegraph. I argue that, with de facto opposition developing at Stormont, sooner or later the institutions will have to change.
The contours of an opposition to the de facto coalition between Sinn Fein and the DUP are already taking shape. Outside Stormont the two larger parties pose as the bitterest of enemies, but in the Assembly chamber and around the Executive table they often act as one.
During the Budget debate MLA after MLA rose to chastise the SDLP or accuse the UUP of complicity in "Tory cuts". The only way to tell Sinn Fein from DUP was the "cúpla focal" of Irish deployed by the Shinners.
Across the Assembly the smaller parties looked embattled, huddling together against a tongue-lashing from Wilson and his supporters. It was raw, angry politics, but it was democracy in action nonetheless.
With the UUP and the SDLP still considering their positions in the Executive, there is an intriguing possibility that the system at Stormont may change by default.
It appears the Assembly is evolving opposition politics, whether there is consensus on tinkering with the institutions or not. Sinn Fein and the DUP represent a majority of voters in Northern Ireland and they're entitled to force through decisions on that basis. It's up to other parties to point out where their policies are flawed and advocate credible alternatives.
It's become increasingly apparent during the Budget wrangle that the UUP and SDLP are already acting like an opposition. The structures should be put in place to let them do that job properly.
Two parties are now thoroughly marginalised within an Executive effectively operating as a coalition between Sinn Fein and the DUP, with Alliance a willing junior partner. Whether they pull their ministers out now, or encourage them to hang on until the election, the UUP and SDLP must still present an alternative to DUP/Sinn Fein-led government. The debate about an opposition at Stormont rages on, but things are already moving in that direction. Sooner or later the formalities will be put in place and our politics will be the healthier for it.
Comments
Without SFs consent it wont happen
Unless you've become the official TUV blogger there isn't much sign elsewhere. I might believe it if bogtrotter Tom comes forward and tells us what he's doing (for this week anyway), but up and until there is a clearcut statement from Elliott then we can be all absolutely 100% certain that the UUP will be taking whatever Ministerial cars they're entitled to after the election.
The UUP will try to make "opposition" a bit of a feature during the election, but they certainly won't be acting on it after the election.
Even you yourself admit that without consent from nationalists (which isn't forthcoming, even from the SDLP) then it will take unilateral action from a party pulling out in order to "force" some change. Lets see Tom put his money where his mouth is then and tell us what he's actually gonna do....
If not then its all hot air from yourself.
If they're not prepared to do that then they're not a "de facto" opposition but just part of the Government which has coalesced together, not because of any actual wish to form an opposition, nor because of any agreement on policy, but simply because they believe it is in their short-term electoral interests to attack the larger section(s) of that Government.
Its cynicism, not opposition which is developing between the UUP & SDLP.
Were it actually to represent the development of an opposition then it would require some form of commitment to actually put their money where their mouth is. Hence the earlier post about why Elliott won't step up and say that he would do so.
That dynamic will only work if the Opposition seeks to define itself in right-left terms rather than opposition for the sake of opposition or criticism of everything unpopular.
It is a mute point as to whether a situation with a DUP/SF Exec and UUP/SDLP in oposition is really progress over the current nonsense
Bob Wilson
However, there is also a flaw in the argument that NI's politics would necessarily develop in the same way as England's. The division need not be "left-right" (as generally understood in British politics), it may be more "radical-traditional", "socialist-moderate", or even "public-private sector".
Having set up the argument, the UUP is now obliged to act upon it. That means not only forming an opposition, but also finding some coherence in its opposing. What, ultimately, is it's vision for NI and how, precisely, does it differ from the DUP's?
So, how does this square with opposition then? You can't just be in bed for the FM post, but be in opposition for all the others....
That of course ignores the fact that Elliott has just admitted he's lost the election. If he were going to be leading the largest party, or even the largest unionist party after the election then he would be calling on the DUP to do the running, yet he's come running without Robinson even having to ask.
So on the one hand he's telling us how much we need an opposition, and on the other he's effectively giving a cast-iron commitment to be in Government if factors completely outside of his control should demand it.
Interesting.... but not doubt you'll be beavering away loyally defending the indefensible once again...
Good boy....
Chief Whip, Fred Cobain said in the Belfast Telegraph it was already being considered.
Anyhow - I seem to have thoroughly breached my self-imposed ordinance in terms of anonymous contributors.