Cameron in Belfast

Over the next couple of days David Cameron, with his revolutionary talk of One Nation Unionism, will be in Northern Ireland holding a Q & A Answer Session with whomever fancies popping along (get your skates on and email here for an invitation) Saturday morning in Belfast, before later addressing the UUP Conference.

It should be an intriguing visit in a number of ways: how will the ordinary punters respond to the unusual (for Northern Ireland anyway, where the electorate are more used to being treated like mushrooms) example of open democracy; how will the UUP rank and file be reacting in public to the Tory link-up and finally, are the Ulster Nationalists going to spontaneously combust at the prospect of this impertinent Britisher, in the capital of their very own Prodistan, confusing the cannon-fodder with his version of true UK-wide Unionism?

Cameron (apparently*) has a piece in the Belfast Telegraph this evening:

When Sir Reg Empey and I made our joint statement back in July we made clear that we wanted to create a new Conservative and Unionist force that would challenge the convention of Northern Ireland politics. It would challenge the notion that Northern Ireland politics always has to be dominated by the constitutional issue. A vast majority of Ulster Unionists recognise that we need to establish a Conservative and Unionist led movement for change that welcomes all who share our values.

Last week we entered into a partnership that will see joint Conservative and Unionist candidates standing for election to Westminster and to the European parliament. If candidates are successful they will take the Conservative whip. If, as a Party, we form the next government of the United Kingdom, local Conservative and Unionist MPs will take their rightful places on the government benches and, potentially, in government itself.

The developing relationship with the Ulster Unionists has caused something of a stir in certain circles. That is to be expected. We are challenging the received wisdom of some people about what Unionism really stands for. Voters will now be offered a Conservative version of Unionism firmly rooted in a modern, pluralist United Kingdom

"We are challenging the received wisdom of some people about what Unionism really stands for"

You most certainly are; I just hope the Ulster Unionist Party as a whole and, more importantly, the electorate are ready to reward you for the risks you collectively with the UUP executive are taking for the sake of the Union.

I'll be endeavouring to cover both the Q & A session and the UUP conference on Saturday, could prove to be an interesting few hours.



* I'm taking the NI Conservatives word for it, I can't find it in my online version of the Tele, instead mine is leading with a story about Ian Paisley Jr in the jungle.