Sir, - Professor Paul Bew (October 26th) in his rush to cheerlead for David Trimble, makes a number of wild claims and fundamental errors that I trust you will permit me to correct, by way of right of reply.
Firstly, Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien has highlighted the enormous dangers that the inept current leadership of the UUP has placed the Union in. That Dr O'Brien's articulate criticism of Mr Trimble's leadership is discreetly swept under the carpet by Professor Bew is disappointing if he is wishing to indulge in serious political debate. If, on the other hand, he is merely seeking to hand-bag for the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, he gets the level of the tone about right.
Secondly, to suggest that it is "unlikely" that David Trimble will collapse when further pressure is applied to him indicated an absolute failure to comprehend that David Trimble has collapsed at every point in this process thus far! What logic does Professor Bew have to indicate a sudden uncharacteristic hardening of the UUP Leader's position? Having retreated from his every stated position, logical analysis leads one to presume Mr Trimble will continue to show all the backbone of a jelly. Pan-nationalism recognises this, as Gerry Adams's "Well done David" comment confirms.
Thirdly, the UKUP alternative to a United Ireland is a United Kingdom. This party has produced its clear concise alternatives to the Belfast Agreement. Professor Bew must presumably have been so dazzled by David Trimble's Nobel Prize that he has failed to notice these. This party is absolute in its total rejection of a united Ireland now, or at any conceivable time in the future. Professor Bew's mischievous comments to the contrary are lightweight nonsense. Misrepresentations of this party's views are a poor substitute for intelligent debate, and it therefore saddens us that Professor Bew appears unwilling or unable to partake in serious engagement on these matters.
Eyebrows are being raised at the daily release of murderers, the dismantling of this country's security establishment, and the push to elevate the delegates of unrepentant terror into power. To attribute these outrages as shining examples of David Trimble's dexterity makes us wonder if this is Professor Bew's concept of an Ulster Unionist victory. We pray God we never see his notion of a defeat!
The UKUP is resolute in our continued defence of the constitutional position of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom. We demand accountable government, free from the interference of the Republic of Ireland and the malign influence of the propagandists of terror. In politics, Professor Bew, you don't need to be lucky, just principled. - Yours, etc., Cedric Wilson,
Deputy Leader, UK Unionist Party, Hamilton Road, Bangor, Co Down.