Post by Harry on Oct 2, 2007 8:12:38 GMT
Cosgrove calls for Unionism to move on to “the Real Issue of Promoting the Union”
There are many aspects of Dr Paisleys behaviour since becoming first minister that have shown a lack of “bigger picture Unionism” but none more so than the so called “Celtic Alliance” with the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies to produce a coherent strategy to get more money out of Westminster. When you hear the leader of UNIONISM praise our foreign neighbours whilst castigating our own British Government over a lack of investment, it beggars belief and further alienates Northern Ireland in the minds of our fellow British citizens across the water. Does Dr Paisley seriously believe that a region of the UK that receives in excess of NINE THOUSAND MILLION POUNDS is really not being treated fairly whilst praising the Irish Government for a few hundred millions of investment in our infrastructure that will directly benefit the economic competitiveness of THEIR regions.
As Unionists we should be congratulating our neighbours for the strides that their economy has made but making it clear that compared to the UK it is still behind in many significant areas. Our employment legislation, our rates of personal taxation, our OVERALL company taxation (especially for the majority SME companies), and crucially the fact that we can control our own inflation by not being in the single currency adding to the fact that we are one of the best regulated markets in the world give the UK clear competitive advantage over most of the other EU countries. That is why we still receive more Foreign Direct Investment than any other single EU country.
Other things which Unionists never say, or maybe do not recognise, is the massive difference in the quality, accessibility and cost of our public services which are miles ahead of our neighbour. Try having an accident in Ireland that requires significant rehabilitation care and you will soon see why over 50% of the population subscribe to private health care plans.
But of course our Britishness and the strength of the Union can never be taken for granted. One of Mr Paisleys colleagues, Mr Salmond, is pushing for a referendum in Scotland to break up the U.K. Since that has always been his stated position I wonder why the leader of Unionism is forming alliances with him but since he has now started putting the wheels in motions to try to split the Union up, Mr Paisley should stop, or be stopped by colleagues, from further developing links with Scottish Republicans. The United Kingdom is a wonderful place to live, work and play and it is about time that all Unionist politicians started selling the tangible benefits of our participation in it to counteract the spin and bluster of those who would let us believe that our neighbour is about to take over the world!
There are many aspects of Dr Paisleys behaviour since becoming first minister that have shown a lack of “bigger picture Unionism” but none more so than the so called “Celtic Alliance” with the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies to produce a coherent strategy to get more money out of Westminster. When you hear the leader of UNIONISM praise our foreign neighbours whilst castigating our own British Government over a lack of investment, it beggars belief and further alienates Northern Ireland in the minds of our fellow British citizens across the water. Does Dr Paisley seriously believe that a region of the UK that receives in excess of NINE THOUSAND MILLION POUNDS is really not being treated fairly whilst praising the Irish Government for a few hundred millions of investment in our infrastructure that will directly benefit the economic competitiveness of THEIR regions.
As Unionists we should be congratulating our neighbours for the strides that their economy has made but making it clear that compared to the UK it is still behind in many significant areas. Our employment legislation, our rates of personal taxation, our OVERALL company taxation (especially for the majority SME companies), and crucially the fact that we can control our own inflation by not being in the single currency adding to the fact that we are one of the best regulated markets in the world give the UK clear competitive advantage over most of the other EU countries. That is why we still receive more Foreign Direct Investment than any other single EU country.
Other things which Unionists never say, or maybe do not recognise, is the massive difference in the quality, accessibility and cost of our public services which are miles ahead of our neighbour. Try having an accident in Ireland that requires significant rehabilitation care and you will soon see why over 50% of the population subscribe to private health care plans.
But of course our Britishness and the strength of the Union can never be taken for granted. One of Mr Paisleys colleagues, Mr Salmond, is pushing for a referendum in Scotland to break up the U.K. Since that has always been his stated position I wonder why the leader of Unionism is forming alliances with him but since he has now started putting the wheels in motions to try to split the Union up, Mr Paisley should stop, or be stopped by colleagues, from further developing links with Scottish Republicans. The United Kingdom is a wonderful place to live, work and play and it is about time that all Unionist politicians started selling the tangible benefits of our participation in it to counteract the spin and bluster of those who would let us believe that our neighbour is about to take over the world!