Knives not out
After the election decapitation, you might have expected the knives to be out for the unionist leaders at the Assembly today. But far from it. The DUP MLAs applauded Peter Robinson to the rafters and insisted that they wouldn't have their choice of leader dictated by tactical voting by other parties' supporters. The DUP have obviously developed a new form of technology by which they can scan ballot papers and tell which come from PUP and UUP supporters consoiring to give them a bloody nose and which come from disgruntled DUPers.
The message is that "Peter is our leader and he shall not be moved". Let's see if this holds all the way into their next election campaign.
The mood within the Conservatives and Unionists was more downbeat. Basil McCrea said he could hear cheering from all the other party rooms, but there wasn't any in the UUP office. That said, any bloodletting has been postponed, with Sir Reg Empey expected to make a statement to his party's executive on Saturday. If as expected he stands down, that could trigger a leadership contest with Danny Kennedy, Tom Elliot, Michael McGimpsey and the aforementioned Basil McCrea all possible candidates.
Whoever leads the party will have to spell out their attitude to the ill starred UCUNF experiment. If the UUP junk the link up it opens out potential options so far as unionist unity is concerned. The Open Unionism web site has set out and
We spoke to the DUP's Gregory Campell on Stormont Live. Apart from reiterating his support for Peter Robinson, and rubbing David McNarry's nose in a previous inaccurate prediction of how few seats the DUP would hold, he seemed in less than a hurry to give up his MLA job. At the launch of the DUP's campaign Peter Robinson said the DUP executive "approved an officer recommendation that will mean any of our Assembly Members elected to Westminster will give up their Assembly seats.". Let's see how swiftly this pledge is implemented.
Over on the nationalist side there has been less soul searching, as both parties held on to what they had. During Martin McGuinness's question time, the notion of the election victors getting together to form a united front was raised. Naomi Long suggested the First and Deputy First should meet all the successful MPs to discuss that (which seemed a mite cruel on Peter Robinson as he would be the only non MP in the room).
The SDLP raised the question of Proportional Representation. I know this is top of the agenda in the Conservative Liberal Democrat talks but it took me aback a little to hear it being pushed on the Assembly floor. However then it hit me - adopt PR for Westminster elections and there would be no need for any talk of those pesky sectarian pacts. A problem shared (on an AV or STV basis) is a problem solved.
I'm 
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