Latest news with #unionism
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
UK Government must deliver promise on unfettered trade – Little-Pengelly
The UK Government must deliver on its promise to restore unfettered trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, Emma Little-Pengelly has said. Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister addressed an Orange Order parade in Lisburn, where she also called on unionist political parties to work together to meet common challenges. The DUP agreed the Safeguarding the Union command paper with the previous government in 2024, which allowed it to return to the Stormont powersharing Executive at Stormont. However, the unionist party says that all of its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements have not been met. The Windsor Framework, and its predecessor the Northern Ireland Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. DUP MLA Ms Little-Pengelly told the gathering in Lisburn that unionism faced 'new challenges'. She said: 'Chief amongst them is the imposition of the sea border within our own country. 'A division between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that no unionist can ever truly accept. 'It is not enough to celebrate our culture if we do not stand to defend it. 'The union is not a distant idea. 'It is our political, economic and emotional home. 'A border in the Irish Sea undermines that home, it divides our people, disrupts our trade and dilutes our identity.' She added: 'The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland made a clear and unambiguous promise to fully restore unfettered internal trade across this United Kingdom. 'That was a promise to the people of Northern Ireland. 'They must deliver it.' The deputy First Minister said it was a time for 'confident and positive strong unionism'. She described the Orange Order as a 'great unifier across many strands of our unionist conviction'. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'Unionism must work together outside of the Order. 'This is a time for vigilance, but it is also a time of opportunity. 'Division brings fracture and weakness, it is unity that brings strength. 'We must recognise that the bonds which pull and bind us together will always mean we have so much more in common than what can ever divide us.' She added: 'Let us recognise the talents and abilities across all shades of unionism, and by using all such, our case will not only be strengthened, but indeed undeniable and irresistible. 'Let me be very clear, the might of the case for our continued union will always be our biggest strength.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK Government must deliver promise on unfettered trade – Little-Pengelly
The UK Government must deliver on its promise to restore unfettered trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, Emma Little-Pengelly has said. Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister addressed an Orange Order parade in Lisburn, where she also called on unionist political parties to work together to meet common challenges. The DUP agreed the Safeguarding the Union command paper with the previous government in 2024, which allowed it to return to the Stormont powersharing Executive at Stormont. However, the unionist party says that all of its concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements have not been met. The Windsor Framework, and its predecessor the Northern Ireland Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. DUP MLA Ms Little-Pengelly told the gathering in Lisburn that unionism faced 'new challenges'. She said: 'Chief amongst them is the imposition of the sea border within our own country. 'A division between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that no unionist can ever truly accept. 'It is not enough to celebrate our culture if we do not stand to defend it. 'The union is not a distant idea. 'It is our political, economic and emotional home. 'A border in the Irish Sea undermines that home, it divides our people, disrupts our trade and dilutes our identity.' She added: 'The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland made a clear and unambiguous promise to fully restore unfettered internal trade across this United Kingdom. 'That was a promise to the people of Northern Ireland. 'They must deliver it.' The deputy First Minister said it was a time for 'confident and positive strong unionism'. She described the Orange Order as a 'great unifier across many strands of our unionist conviction'. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'Unionism must work together outside of the Order. 'This is a time for vigilance, but it is also a time of opportunity. 'Division brings fracture and weakness, it is unity that brings strength. 'We must recognise that the bonds which pull and bind us together will always mean we have so much more in common than what can ever divide us.' She added: 'Let us recognise the talents and abilities across all shades of unionism, and by using all such, our case will not only be strengthened, but indeed undeniable and irresistible. 'Let me be very clear, the might of the case for our continued union will always be our biggest strength.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
DUP leader calls for unionist parties to co-operate
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party called for more political co-operation among unionist parties in his address following the Belfast Twelfth of July parade."When unionism splits, unionism loses," said Gavin Robinson, who was the main speaker at the Belfast cited the loss of the Lagan Valley Westminster seat to Alliance in the 2024 general election as an example and called for talks between unionists on more political views were echoed by the Orange Order's deputy grand master Harold Henning, who called for "closer collaboration between the leadership" of unionist parties to "maximise unionist representation at all levels of government". Thousands of people took part in Orange Order parades across Northern Ireland on annual marches commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in event is also a celebration of Protestant traditions and Ulster-Scots heritage. Robinson said the Twelfth was about "faith and freedom", but told the assembled crowd some people dismissed the event and "would rather we keep our heads down"."It crosses class, it bridges geography and it cuts across party political lines," he was also critical of the Labour government and the Windsor Framework, calling the Northern Ireland Protocol "a once in a generation act of self-harm to the union".He said unionists had received "broken promises" from the Labour government, adding that it was not prioritising Northern framework is Northern Ireland's post-Brexit deal which covers trade and human at the Twelfth event in Maghera, County Londonderry, Mr Henning said he wanted to send a message of collaboration to unionist politicians."Cooperation between our political representatives must be encouraged - more than that, it should be demanded and country should always come before party or individual self-interest," he said. Robinson's party colleague, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little -Pengelly said people wanted to see a "united front" within the Orange Order and political unionism."Within every hall, within every lodge, there are people from all different shades of unionism, all different types of political views within the unionist family, and yet they walk together, they are friends, they are brethren, regardless of those particular shades of unionism," she said."That's a big message for political unionism."
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Bullets, coffins and abuse: CFMEU's reign of terror exposed in damning report
WARNING: Coarse language A scathing report has exposed the Queensland branch of militant construction union the CFMEU's reign of fear, detailing threats of bullets, sexual abuse, and the targeting of children over their parents' roles. A bombshell 45-page investigation by anti-corruption expert Geoffrey Watson SC, commissioned by union administrator Mark Irving KC, has revealed a deeply disturbing portrait of the CFMEU's conduct under former state leaders Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham. NewsWire is not suggesting Mr Ravbar or Mr Ingham engaged in any wrongdoing. Mr Watson described it as a 'perverted model' of unionism where threats and abuse were used to dominate and control. Among the most shocking findings was a litany of vile threats, including officials telling people 'we know where you live' and 'there's a bullet with your name on it', a public servant locked in a cupboard; and a young woman harassed at a gym over her father's role as a workplace health and safety inspector. Mr Watson said the CFMEU 'actually intended to inflict physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse on others' and showed 'no genuine remorse' for its behaviour. 'The CFMEU is ruthless – it will crush anyone offering any resistance to it,' Mr Watson wrote. 'This included, if necessary, destroying individuals and businesses.' He cited other threats such as 'we know you have two young sons', and 'we won't stop coming for you – no one can protect you'. The report found CFMEU leaders fostered an environment where violence was used to intimidate Workplace Health and Safety inspectors, public servants, rival unions, and employers. The report stated that in 2021, a 21-year-old woman was approached at a Brisbane gym and told: 'Is that your old man on the video? He's a f**king c**t.' In another incident, a WHS inspector attending a funeral was surrounded by three strangers who hurled abuse at him, calling him a 'c**t' and a 'f**king dog Another WHS official was stalked by a union member wielding a live angle grinder. In another case, CFMEU members hoisted a coffin outside the Master Builders' office in a protest, shouting to a young woman behind the glass: 'Come out here and I'll f**k you.' Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the level of abuse detailed in the report was more horrifying than even he had suspected despite warning about the union's conduct for years. 'Public servants, women locked in cupboards and threatened. Staff members of Workplace Health and Safety … it's worse than I could have imagined,' Mr Bleijie said on Today. 'They threatened people with bullets. They threatened people with coffins. (They said): 'You won't come home from the construction site'.' Mr Bleijie said family members were treated as 'fair game'. 'I knew it was but I have to admit I didn't think it was this bad,' Mr Bleijie said on Sunrise. 'We already changed legislation in the first three months (of) government to stem a lot of these issues out of the CFMEU, but this report is wild and worse than I could have imagined.' The report stated things became so bad for WHS inspectors that they had to introduce their own safe work practices to protect themselves, including body-worn cameras and a buddy system. The union also stormed government offices, caused $25,000 in damage during a lockdown, and issued a bomb threat at a West End site, the report found. Mr Watson wrote in his report that CFMEU organisers said they had never seen any violence emanating from the union. 'That is laughable given the extensive court findings and the irrefutable video evidence,' Mr Watson stated. Mr Watson conducted 55 interviews with CFMEU officials, members, other trade unionists, politicians, bureaucrats, building contractors, employer representatives, bystanders, and victims and examined extensive video and photographic evidence. Despite this, he said he feared his investigation 'only scratched the surface'.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Unionism must offer a positive future, not hark back to a past that was often dark and divided
Northern Ireland's unionist political leaders have shared many stages in the past to oppose the Anglo-Irish Agreement, restrictions on Drumcree marches in the 1990s, or the various chapters of Brexit . On each such occasion, those watching may have understood what those unionist leaders were against, but they will rarely have been sure about the future they offered to those listening to them. Is it possible, however, to imagine unionist leaders putting forward a positive, optimistic, generous, open vision of a Northern Ireland content inside the United Kingdom with the same energy and purpose? Or, to put it more bluntly, can political unionism paint a vision of a better future for everyone in Northern Ireland, rather than presenting itself often as being unable to do much about a worsening one? READ MORE The reason this is so difficult to imagine is because political unionism for decades has always struggled miserably to deal with the tension caused between hankering after the past, and being fearful about the future. For many of them, the former evokes memories of belonging and security, but the latter surely requires creativity, reflexivity and imagination to meet the uncertainties of the world to come. Graham Spencer, emeritus professor of social and political conflict at the University of Portsmouth Political unionism remains stuck between these two poles, harking back to a past that cannot be recovered, but unable to use its own heritage to demonstrate unionism's relevance to today. This problem became especially acute after the 1998 Belfast Agreement: Sinn Féin used that moment to develop a transformed image through new forms of political representation. In the wake of the agreement, divided unionists, though, largely stood still, unable to mobilise the hope and expectations of the moment to demonstrate the value and benefit of change that it could bring. [ Unionists must ask themselves: 'is this as good as it gets?' Opens in new window ] Not surprisingly, unionism's tendency to avoid building a future of co-operation and powersharing has meant it has been unable to develop productive social and political relationships since. If these failings are not confronted and addressed, unionism's social and political significance will continue to diminish, reduced to a relic of missed opportunities, undermining the value of the union as they do. Without working to create and shape a future of possibilities and advancements the political message offered by unionist leaders of all hues, to different degrees, is stuck between pessimism and depression. How might this be addressed? Firstly, Northern Ireland's unionist parties should work together and agree a set of principles that emphasise public and social responsibilities, rather than focusing on differences and divisions. So, perhaps, I can offer a few ideas. Create employment opportunities through better education and investment; Be open to ideas for change wherever they come from; Commit to citizenship and civic responsibility through fairness, decency and respect; Adopt creative and pragmatic approaches to divisive social and political issues; Confront sectarianism, discrimination and prejudice; Build social cohesion based on social justice and democratic values; Develop relations with those outside of the Union to support change; Promote the common good; Recognise and encourage difference; Prioritise accountability and a commitment to public service. Bearing in mind that the devil is not in the detail but, as always, lies in the interpretation, one can debate, I fully accept, the meaning and definition of the principles that are outlined here. However, one should not lose sight of the main goal, which is to promote the validity and integrity of unionist politics through social co-operation rather than through division, as happens too often today. [ My generation must decide what unionism means to us. There's no Tardis to bring us back to 1955 Opens in new window ] By focusing on the delivery of and commitment to public service and accountability, a new and decent politics could emerge in Northern Ireland that goes beyond the limiting demands of tribal appeal. Important, too, is the need for recognition that any demonstrable delivery of such principles must be based on maximising benefits for all and not some at the expense of others. These principles to build a decent society are not only hard to argue against, but they would encourage unionism to think beyond divisions of identity and geography and work to achieve a common good. Unionism must rethink everything if it wants to hold on to what it cherishes, but especially it must rethink the language it uses – which is often negative, antagonistic, sometimes downright unpleasant. Words like 'safeguarding' are defensive, but 'transforming', for example, concentrates on the positive, while 'making Northern Ireland work' implies that the place does not. Instead, say 'making Northern Ireland better for all'. Communicating fear in a bid to generate solidarity would do little to meet the challenges and opportunities facing Northern Ireland as it faces the years ahead even if it were a far less complicated place than it is. The reinforcement of a sense of loss and defeat does give meaning to group identity but seeing the world in hard black and white, or win or lose, does nothing to generate collaboration. Without examples of effective and respectful collaboration to address problems, fears become more entrenched, further exacerbating the divisive atmosphere in which they thrive. Declarations of certainty may be reassuring but they are unrealistic and cement polarisation. Unionism must recognise that much of what it has been doing is self-defeating, offers nothing news and only hinders change. By meeting social needs and demonstrating a commitment to serving the public as a whole, political unionism could begin to become a more expansive and progressive force for good in Northern Ireland. If it were to try, it could chime with both the challenges and opportunities of today, rather than harking back to a past that is gone. Whether unionist politicians can see, or be made to see, value in this is another matter entirely.
