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The days of complacency in the ranks of Unionists are well
and truly over.
That has to be one of the main lessons to be derived from
the Assembly elections.
It was another disastrous result for the once mighty Ulster
Unionist Party. The election confirmed the strength of the
Democratic Unionist Party, now the strongest party within
Unionism.
But while it was highly satisfactory that a Unionist party
finished this election as the largest political party in Northern
Ireland, the warning signs are still ringing out loud and
clear for Unionism as a whole.
Gone are the halcyon years of impregnable Unionism, of huge
majorities, and of a largely divided and apathetic nationalist
electorate.
In its place is a highly efficient and totally committed
Sinn Fein, a party organised to the extent that it has dwarfed
the other nationalist parties, and is strong enough to present
a formidable opposition to Unionism.
Unionism is on the back-foot in many areas, and it is facing
an increasingly difficult task getting its electorate out
to vote, especially in what have been termed 'safe' areas
of the Province.
These are in the east of the Province, which has traditionally
experienced a lower turnout than the west, where Protestants
and Unionists are always aware of the need to get their maximum
vote out.
In the east, there has been a tendency for Unionists to adopt
a complacent and relaxed attitude to elections. This may not
have cost Unionism in the past, but that is no longer the
case.
A low poll favours the smaller parties, especially with the
Proportional Representation system of voting. It has certainly
worked to the advantage of Sinn Fein, which is geared to get
its supporters out in large numbers, even in constituencies
where the nationalist population is small.
It has always been essential for Unionists to get its supporters
out to vote at election time, due to the all-important constitutional
issue.
But never more so than these days when every election is
analysed throughout the world, and pundits examine every aspect
of the voting trends to see if there has been any weakening
in the Unionist position.
What a disaster it would have been for Unionism in Northern
Ireland had Sinn Fein finished this election with the largest
number of seats. That would have been some message to have
sent out to the watching world, and would have been a massive
blow to the Unionist and pro-British population.
Thankfully, it didn't happen, but no thanks were due to the
vast numbers of Unionists who stayed at home, and found various
reasons for not voting.
This election has been a 'wake up' call for Unionism - a
warning shot fired across the bows. It has, or should have,
alerted everyone to the absolute need for all who treasure,
or value the Union to do their duty and go out and vote for
the Unionist candidate of their choice.
Militant republicanism is on the march, and Sinn Fein will
continue to work unceasingly to undermine and weaken the Unionist
position.
The pro-British people must 'smell the coffee' and come to
their senses. Northern Ireland is not the overwhelmingly Unionist
province it was until a few decades ago, and Unionists must
regain the habit of going to the polls, especially in east
Northern Ireland, if people are to retain their cherished
British nationality.
The right to vote was earned at enormous cost, and men and
women died for the liberties of British people in the northern
part of Ireland.
People here have inherited a wonderful legacy, handed to
them by their forefathers. It would be a tragedy if this were
to be lost or put in jeopardy because many people from the
Unionist community were not prepared to go out and spend a
few minutes on election days casting their vote.
The onus is on all the Unionist parties to see that this
sort of thing does not arise, and that the Assembly election
of 2007 represents a watershed and a lesson taken on board
and acted on by them to see that their vote is maximised in
future.
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