Confusing Times for Tory Unionists: Trimble Jumps

Even as the Tories ready to cast their Scottish clans into the darkness for much grinding and gnashing of third rate teeth Lord Trimble has announced that he has joined McCameron.

Back in November 06 David began advising the new leader on what he should do. Labour has been organising at a laid back pace in the North for about three years, relaxing the ruling that no memberships are accepted.

The SDLP has been a sister party for some time. My uncle Hugh was a Derry cornerboy with that handsome young scamp John Hume. And apart from some dim and distant gun-running, a gunned down second cousin Hugh, and a few baton rounds here and there the family were and are strict Social Democrats.

There are also comradely links with Irish Labour and a thriving Labour Irish Society. Sinn Fein tend to have a do at conference. Though I can't say I've yet noticed socialist fractions of any Unionist party on the fringe. Rev Dr Ian Paisley's controversial 2006 visit was I seem to recall much reduced.

For my money The Co-op Party, which has an electoral agreement with British Labour, could be an ideal focus for re-engineering the party politics of the North for the 21st Century and I suggested this to party organisers at a GMB-lubricated meeting in a Brighton Hotel in September 2005.

Hat tip: Iain Dale