Plans by the Ulster Unionist leadership to unilaterally break
the link with the Orange Order must be strongly resisted by
party members who greatly value the historic bond between
two organisations which traditionally share the same aims
and objectives of preserving Northern Ireland's position within
the United Kingdom.
Under new proposals drawn up by several Ulster Unionist Party
officers, the Orange Order would have no representation at
all on the Ulster Unionist Council, and the influence of the
Young Unionist movement would also be decimated.
At present, there are 120 Orange delegates on the 860-strong
Ulster Unionist Council, while the Young Unionist movement
has 35.
The UUP reform proposals are being presented unilaterally,
without approval with the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and
leader David Trimble, ominously no longer enjoying widespread
support in the party, has made it clear the changes have his
backing.
UUP president Sir Josias Cunningham and party vice-chairman
James Cooper were directly involved in drawing up the proposals,
but there is strong opposition within the 100-strong executive,
and in the Ulster Unionist Council to a radical move that
would undoubtedly please nationalist and republicans and other
opponents of Unionism.
The changes would constitute an amendment to existing party
rules and would require for approval a two-thirds majority
vote at the Ulster Unionist Council. In the present climate,
it is generally accepted that this would be a huge obstacle
for Trimble and his reformers, as Orange influence in Ulster
Unionism is still far reaching.
Lagan Valley M.P., Jeffrey Donaldson has warned that the
Ulster Unionist Party faces electoral disaster if it ditches
the Orange Order from the party's structures.
Bro. Donaldson says moves to axe the Orange Order and the
Young Unionist movement from the ruling Ulster Unionist Council
would destroy the party.
"It is not in our interests to get into a row with the
Orange Order at this time. We have enough of problems as it
is with the current political situation, without creating
further problems and divisions.
"I have heard talk that some Orangemen want to see this
end up in court with a battle over share of Ulster Unionist
assets. The last thing we need in the run-up to a General
Election and the local council elections, is a squabble with
the Orange Institution in court," says the M.P., a former
Assistant Grand Master of the Order.
Bro. Donaldson points out: "The party leader is committed
to going back to the Ulster Unionist Council with any proposals
that come from the Order, and we could well have another very
divisive debate on political issues. If we factor in another
special meeting in June to decide the fate of the Orange Order
and the Young Unionist Council, that's a very dangerous scenario
to be in".
Wor. Bro. Robert Saulters, Grand Master of the Grand Orange
Lodge of Ireland, has said that if the Ulster Unionist Party
wanted to go ahead and break the 95-year link with the Order,
that was its choice but the party is going to have to live
with the consequences in terms of loss of electoral support.
If a final break did come as a result of unilateral action
by the Ulster Unionist Party, a legal wrangle would almost
inevitably occur, with the Orange Order seeking its share
of Ulster Unionist Council assets, at present conservatively
estimated to be close to £1 million.
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