What Unionism needs to learn from Enniskillen

Ignited, prior to tomorrow’s Enniskillen by-election, has posed several questions, to both the DUP and UUP. The UUP’s answers are now posted up over at Redemption’s Son.

Amongst all the answers, this quote from Basil Johnston caught my eye:

What matters most for the longterm future of the Union and the UK is that we maximise the total pro-Union turnout and become more vigourous and adventurous in promoting the Union. It is important that there is co-operation between the pro-Union parties (which is why we are talking to the Conservatives), but we also think that there is room for two mainstream pro-Union parties in NI.

In the big scheme of things who wins a council by-election is neither here nor there. What will be interesting for me, however, is how, in this proportional representation election where there is a very good chance that Sinn Fein will grab a victory, the Unionist vote will run down the card- will the DUPers vote UUP as their second choice and vice-versa?
I really do suspect not and if that is indeed the case, then what Johnston says about there being room for two pro-Union parties is undoubtedly true; but the second, uncomfortable truth for both parties, if Unionism is to avoid such similar situations in the future, is that the overall, aggregate Unionist vote will have to be increased province-wise.

And the third most uncomfortable truth following on from that is that I believe the DUP and the UUP (in its present form) are incapable of bringing those new, “untraditional” voters into the fold. We need radical change to the present stale, set-up and we need it fast.