Many of the social problems we see and experience can be attributed to our increasingly fractured society and a loss of collective identity.  Anything that contributes to this fracturing through the prevention of community activity or through restrictions on the way that we relate to each other isn’t a step in the right direction. 

Despite being a lawyer, I’m not a huge fan of legislation as a tool of social policy.  Yet I’ve come to the conclusion that a change in law is probably the only way to start to shift things in a different direction.  A Bill of Rights is the obvious way of achieving this aim.  It could help redefine our increasingly defensive viewpoint.  If we don’t, the lack of the 392 the next time the snow flakes start to flutter will be the least of our worries.

It will be interesting to see if this perspective gains support in GB and how it might impact on the UUP’s attitude towards and Bill of Rights in Northern Ireland.

David Cameron says he stands for change and for a new ‘Union’ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Conservatives in Northern Ireland say they are post-sectarian and that if elected to the Assembly their MLAs would designate themselves as ‘other’ – not unionist or nationalist.

No wonder there was such interest when he arrived in Belfast on Saturday to share his ‘vision’ with soon to be colleagues in the UUP.

A new dawn then?

Well no.

His message was anything but post-sectarian. It was in the words of former UUP adviser, Stephen King, ‘red, white and blue’. Cameron got his biggest cheer when he declared a ’selfish and strategic interest in Northern Ireland’ a remark which undermines a speech made by Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Brooke at the dawn of the peace process when he said the UK had no selfish strategic interest in Northern Ireland.

The Tory leader went on to wax lyrical about issues which are devolved as if they were not but managed to sidestep the important issues here like education, justice, water charges, sustainability, the bill of rights or an Irish Language Act.

The Good Friday Agreement puts the North’s destiny in the hands of the people of Northern Ireland, Unionist and Nationalist and commits the British and Irish governments to a position of neutrality on the future of this region. How does Mr Cameron square this with his assertion that he will ‘not be neutral’ on Northern Ireland if elected PM?.

The old UUP gave us a Prodestant Stormont for a Protestant people. Sounds like Cameron wants a return to a Unionist Prime Minister for the Unionist people.

To paraphrase his big fan, Barack Obama. That’s not change, that’s just back to Thatcherism.   

He is dipping in the polls too.

New partnerships always have big communications issues to overcome. Each party’s message has to knit into the other. This is not happening here. Cameron is talking about the UK and taking it for granted that NI is a fully signed up member. 

His core proposal was that the Union should be stronger and that he wants to lead a United UK. Grand so, but he talked about issues which were devolved as if they were not and did not address a single one of the key political issues in Northern Ireland such as education, policing and justice or sectarianism. I can’t imagine him escaping a similar meeting in the English midlands for example without talking about racism. This sounded like the bloke from England who came over to talk about GB, not someone who wants to lead NI also.

All in all I was underwhelmed by the Tory Messiah and his vision for NI within the UK. Not because I disagree with it, because I still don’t know what it is.

Beginning to see what President Elect Obama meant when he let it be known he does not have much time for Mr Cameron.

The prospect of a UUP – Tory pact is interesting in a number of ways.

From a UUP point of view this could get the party off the hook of sectarian politics which has dominated it since its foundation.  David Cameron’s Conservative Party will not tolerate the sort of policies which the UUP promoted during their earlier relationship in the 20th century. In fairness to the new generation of UUP people, they seem very keen to find a new and relevant voice.  

The Tories will get a couple of extra MPs (they hope), something which could really matter in a hung parliament. It will all present a big challenge for the brave bunch of NI Tories. Takeovers, mergers or partnerships always lead to the assimilation of the smaller party and a significant loss of influence.  So whilst the UUP will become conservative in GB terms, NI Tories will become UUP back home.

As for the left wing unionists out there time will tell whether they will feel able to stay within the new arrangements or whether this will spur other conversations about politics here.

The O’Conall St post bag has been full of interesting correspondence this week. There were emails from Gary McKeown and Terry McErlane. Both of whom have launched new blogs. This is Gary’s second coming and a good read as always.

Up at the house on the Hill former journo and SDLP spin master, Ruairi O’Kane, has been cooking up his own culinary delights. He points out that his dish was an important omission from the recently published MLA cook book.

The Devolution of Justice and Policing Agreement Fudge

 Cooking instructions

Mix some DUP nuts with some crumbly and flakey Shinners and stir.

Cook up together in Stormont Castle for 150 days. Then leave to simmer until boiling point.

Add some dough from London.

Remember to remove all dates.

Then serve up as a sticky agreement and spoon feed to a cynical and bemused media and public and hope they swallow it.

For best results take the Devolution of Justice and Policing Agreement Fudge with a large pinch of salt.

Warning – may leave bitter taste in the mouth and could stick in the throat