The old division between the UUP's devolutionists and integrationists has gone, writes DAN KEENAN
“IT’S THE smell of power, that’s what’s doing it here.” These are the words of an anonymous young man, explaining himself and his appearance at a UUP conference.
It’s been a while since the Ulster Unionists appeared as sure-footed as this, and even longer since words like “young”, “fresh” and “energetic” were associated with them.
Regardless of what outsiders regard as the uncertain ground on which the link-up with the British Conservatives is based, key party people insist they are right.
On the basis of the mood of the conference hall, they seem to know what they’re talking about.
The heart of the UUP and its voters is Tory. Supporters like the tone of the talk about joining the mainstream of UK politics while maintaining a commitment to new-style devolution at Stormont.
The old division between the party’s devolutionists and integrationists has gone. Now they are not either one or the other – they see themselves as both.
But it’s more than this which has given the old party such a palpable lift. For the first time in years, the conference hall was packed well before things got under way – and packed by people other than the aged and stereotypical blue-rinse brigade which had populated annual gatherings in previous years.
There was no dismissive and politically incorrect talk about the Zimmer-frame party.
The Ulster Unionists feel they can corner the DUP and halt its brash swagger, and are genuinely eager for next spring’s Westminster contest, hopeful they can score a few wins. With their starting point so low, the impact of a gain of one or two MPs is easily guessed and it excites them.
Much of the promise held out by the Ulster Unionist-Tory joint ticket appears emotional. The potential involvement in some form of UUP members in a David Cameron-led government enables the party’s stalwarts and potential voters to feel more British and closer to its core political institutions, despite the new gravitational pull of Stormont.
The conference delegates clearly loved the address by William Hague, his Euroscepticism, and his rubbishing of big-spending and big-borrowing Labour. But they also feel, and the party has admitted, that Cameron could well be waving at the steps of Number 10 even before a Northern Ireland ballot box has been opened for counting.
Delegates know the potential gains from the Conservative link, and their junior role within it. Both are potentially healthy.