Loyalists in Last Chance Saloon<\/h2>\n
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (John Coulter, Irish Daily Star)<\/strong><\/p>\n Ex-UUP members McCrea and McCallister can put whatever spin they like on their new media-cuddly party, but unless they push their bucket-load of new exciting policies into the loyalist working class, their party will crash and burn in the next Stormont poll in 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n The secret of who speaks for Unionism will be decided by the Protestant working class as former MLA Billy Hutchinson’s Progressive Unionists seem to be enjoying a loyalist revival.<\/em><\/p>\n But the PUP cannot become a leading voice in Unionism without a strong Protestant middle class showing.<\/em><\/p>\n Look at how the Shinners politically gobbled up the Stoops’ traditional middle class Catholic support to become the North’s number one nationalist party.<\/em><\/p>\n Hutchinson has what the McUnionists need \u2013 a solid loyalist working class voice.<\/em><\/p>\n And McCrea and McCallister have what Hutchinson needs to become a major Stormont voice of opposition to the Robbo\/McGuinness Executive partnership \u2013 clear middle class and media backing.<\/em><\/p>\n Provided the McUnionists can control their toffee-nosed Fur Coat Brigade, a sensible, realistic coalition would involve a new Gang of Three \u2013 Hutchinson, McCrea and McCallister.<\/em><\/p>\n The sceptics will say \u2013 such a merger will never work as earlier plans to form a partnership between the PUP and UUP floundered because of the former’s links with the loyalist death squads, the UVF and Red Hand Commando.<\/em><\/p>\n But look at what the PUP\/McUnionists have to contend with; hardly a major mountain to climb.<\/em><\/p>\n The DUP is locked in a tight coalition with Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/em><\/p>\n The UUP is in meltdown and will probably only exist as a fringe movement by 2016 with no more than half a dozen MLAs.<\/em><\/p>\n Jim Allister’s TUV, in spite of winning the vote on Ann’s Law, is still a one-man band.<\/em><\/p>\n The Northern Tories have shot themselves in both feet by supporting gay marriage in a country where the Christian Church vote holds major influence.<\/em><\/p>\n The anti-European Union UKIP is a one-trick pony, simply wanting to take the North out of the EU.<\/em><\/p>\n Independent Unionism is a lone voice with East Derry MLA David McClarty.<\/em><\/p>\n Alliance, often viewed as a ‘soft u’ Unionist Party has committed political suicide with its disastrous Belfast City Council Union flag vote.<\/em><\/p>\n Basically, Unionism is in a real mess, so the PUP and McUnionists must strike while the iron is hot and get as many potential voters registered.<\/em><\/p>\n Expect mainstream Unionists to step up a very negative propaganda campaign that the McUnionists are going nowhere.<\/em><\/p>\n But establishment Unionists need to remember the old proverb, a new broom sweeps clean. Maybe what the Unionist voters want is a new start \u2013 and Hutchinson, McCrea and McCallister?<\/em><\/p>\n As for republicans, they must be banging the bin lids with joy at yet another split in the Unionist family.<\/em><\/p>\n Nationalist tactics will be simple \u2013 transfer to the McUnionists to keep Robbo’s DUP out.<\/em><\/p>\n But the key question is \u2013 do McCrea and McCallister have the political courage to invite Hutchinson’s working class loyalists into their overtly middle class fold?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n June 11, 2013<\/span>________________<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This article appeared in the June 10, 2013 edition of the Irish Daily Star<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/L+MCCREA+77894jpg.jpg\" "\\"L+MCCREA+77894jpg\\"")
<\/a>Loyalists have entered the Last Chance Saloon with the unveiling of the new liberal McUnionist Party fronted by Basil and wee Johnny.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>The hardline Protestant Coalition party formed by the flag protestors lacks sensible policies.<\/em><\/p>\n