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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Orange Standard

Maximising The Unionist Vote

Article 4 ~ May 2006

The next General Election may be some way off, but it is not too early for Unionists of both parties to be reaching agreement on how best to maximise the pro-British vote.

The lessons of Unionist disunity which cost at least two Westminster seats at the last General Election can surely not have been forgotten.

That disunity and lack of common purpose resulted in the loss of the South Belfast seat, most recently held by the Rev Martin Smyth, and before that the late Rev Robert Bradford.

It also handed the Fermanagh-south Tyrone seat to Sinn Fein - a cruel blow to the Protestant people of the frontier county who had suffered so badly from IRA terrorism in the 30-year campaign against this Province.

It is not the Orange Order's role, or wish, to apportion blame for this state of affairs. The Order has always tried to facilitate moves to achieve Unionist unity.

Conscious of the fact that Orange membership is held by all the branches of Unionism, the Order did not call on its huge membership to vote for one or other of the main Unionist parties.

But the Order is entitled to feel concerned about any weakening of the Protestant and pro-British position in Northern Ireland, hence its concern over the loss of these two parliamentary seats.

Irish republicanism and nationalism is on the march, and its triumphalism can be seen in many spheres of activity.

There is nothing to be gained by Ulster Protestants and Unionists bemoaning what has happened in the recent past. It is much more important to halt the advance of republicanism and to restore confidence and esteem to the British-Irish population in Northern Ireland.

One of the best ways of doing this is to win seats at elections, and that is why both Unionist parties must put on their thinking caps and share a common purpose in achieving some understanding before the General Election.

Of course, the Unionist parties are not solely to blame for the decline in the pro-British votes at election time, and loss of seats.

There has been a rise in apathy in the ranks of the Unionist people, especially in the east of the Province.

Places like North Down abound with what have been called the 'garden centre Prod', and have either stood aloof from politics, or opted for a more liberal brand.

They are perfectly entitled to do this, but they should also examine their consciences and remember the price paid by Unionist people living in less safe areas of Northern Ireland, especially along the border.

These people in the affluent east of Ulster need to play a more vigorous role in promoting their British identity, and their culture and history.

The Orange Order will do its best to achieve this, and it is a challenge for the lodges in the more comfortable areas of the Province to awaken the many people who have lost the habit of voting, and alert them to the dangers facing their British citizenship and identity.

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