Conservatives & Unionists - going forward into new politics

I will be honest, had there been an agreed Unionist Candidate for South Belfast I might have allowed my name to go forward.

Then, in a heart searching moment, I recognised just how wrong that would have been [on so many levels!].

I attended the UUP Conference on Saturday and was struck not by peacocks strutting (as some have put it), but by the encouraging number of new people, younger people, men and women, from a variety of faith, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds and significantly from the business community.

The Conservative & Unionist voice will appeal, more and more, to many in South Belfast and East Belfast and right across the province. People are tired of the hatred, of the narrowness of perspective, of the default position to attack others with venom. I thought one contributor on Jim Fitzpatrick's Politics Show on Sunday might actually burst, live on TV!

In coalition we must focus on what we agree on, we must remember how far we have travelled and we must redouble our efforts to reach accommodation and understanding on the things that hold us back.

Don't get me wrong, not least in the ever increasing Conservative & Unionist family, we have a long way to travel before we are confident, outward looking and attractive enough to the political class (as opposed to their electorate) to move or merge.

One portion of Sir Reg Empey's Leader's Conference Speech struck me on Saturday; it was his reference to the United States of America and Gerry Adam's overt campaign to encourage Irish America to push for Irish Unity.

Without thinking of myself more highly than I ought, I am somewhat qualified to speak on Irish America, perhaps more than most in the Conservative & Unionist fold. I was the first Ulsterman appointed to the board of the Ireland-US Council since it was established out of the meeting of President JFK and Taoiseach Sean Lamass in 1963. Working with colleagues from Ireland and the US, I influenced the constitution of that group to be changed, by taking them back to a speech by Kennedy referring to an 'island of opportunity'. Together we redefined the constitutional references to 'Ireland' to mean the 'island of Ireland'.

I am also a Founder Trustee of The Presidents' Club which draws its Patrons and Trustees from across the island and the United States. In that and other capacities I have engaged, socialised and spoken at groups as diverse as Presbyterian gatherings in Virginia to the AOH Manhattan Branch. I have shown the confident face of Conservative Unionism, I have spoken proudly of my heritage and I have demonstrated we are reasonable and normal!

I accept Gerry Adam's campaign of espousing Irish Unity might threaten some folks. I suggest it ought not to threaten a more confident unionist family and it be countered, not with hostility, but by confidently, professionally and carefully educating and presenting the alternative view, a more unifying way, that appeals to the hearts and minds of the majority.

We have had tremendous discussions recently about the Diaspora. As the conversation continues people are becoming clear just how numerous, dispersed and well placed the Diaspora is. The other thing that is now accepted is that it has 40 shades of green and at least as many of orange! I would encourage all to read Senator Jim Webb's book Born Fighting - how the Scots-Irish shaped America and to delve into his Political Action Group of same name.

These are exciting days and we have tremendous and plentiful opportunities ahead. Let's confidently embrace the future, with our Diapsora and see how it can be harnessed to underpin the economy and to enrich culture. We have just had a good example with the visit of the Irish Technology Leadership Group from Silicon Valley to Belfast. It was my pleasure and privilege, building on friendships and relationships, to bring the ITLG to Titanic Quarter in the East and to An Culturlann and the Gaeltacht Quarter in the West of my beautiful Belfast.

Meantime I hope Conservatives & Unionists continue to provide leadership and engage wholeheartedly on the important issues of the day Education, Economy, Health and a Shared & Better Future.