I’m very encouraged to note that Margaret Ritchie and her team at the SDLP has rejected overtures from Sinn Fein to form an electoral pact for certain target marginal constituencies in the upcoming general election. Should such a pact be put in place it would almost certainly result in the SDLP retaining South Belfast and Sinn Fein retaining Fermanagh South Tyrone.
The SDLP’s decision to reject such an overture shows that it recognises a clear constitutional difference between itself and Sinn Fein. That difference, of course, is clear to see – in that Sinn Fein has had a rather shorter tenure as a constitutional, non-violent, political organisation. The SDLP seems to be coming to terms with Northern Ireland as a political entity – and its role within it. It seems keen to be seen as an honest broker.
The same cannot be said of the UUP – or, rather, the dysfunctional, rudderless factions that the UUP has become. The largest of these factions is getting increasingly close to the DUP – aided and abetted by the Conservative Party. It seems increasingly likely that if the UUP receives little support at the general election for its ‘new force’ with the Conservatives – which wouldn’t be surprising given the lack-lustre line-up of candidates – it will quickly enter into some type of partnership with the DUP for the Assembly elections. The alternative will be electoral annihilation.
I’d hope that the SDLP might be rewarded for acting on principle. However, the consequence, in Fermanagh South Tyrone will almost certainly be the election of a candidate that is being offered to the electorate as non-sectarian – but who is a pawn in a highly sectarian selection process defined by the DUP, UUP and Conservative Party.
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