Platform For Change is a Norn Iron based pressure/lobby group which “is a voice for citizens of Norn Iron who believe that now is the time for a new politics focussed on the common good. It is the place for people who feel there is more to be gained from positive politics and want to be involved”.

The quote above is taken from its own website. It looks extremely benign. Many of the signatories  to the programme are political figures in the “middle ground” parties (UUP, SDLP and Alliance). Some more are “celebrities” of sorts but many are academics, especially liberal dissidents.

Although not actively engaged in party politics, it would be wrong to suggest that these people are apolitical. Indeed the quote above indicates that they “want” to be involved……if the politics change. This suggests a laudable move away from the tribal politics of the two tribes……Unionism and Nationalism.

A seductive notion. The notion that Norn Iron can move away from tribal politics and embrace “mainland” British politics of conservatism, socialism and liberalism (as represented by the three British parties … Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat) is a long held liberal dissident policy. Liberal Dissidents are those that believe they are much too intelligent to engage in Norn Iron politics.

Unfortunately for them, the middle of the road parties DO have connexions to the British parties. But thats not good enough. The Ulster Unionist Party is conservative in outlook and occasionally has ties to the British Conservative Party of David Cameron. Unfortunately the sectarian nature of the UUP underbelly and its tendency to be more right wing than mainstream British Conservatism means its a bit of an embarrassment in London. But as recently as 2010, the UUP fought the Westminster Election as a fully fledged component of the British Conservative Party. That of course went very sour very quickly.

The SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party) is centre-left, just like the mainstream British Labour Party. And the Irish Labour Party. And indeed has fraternal ties to European socialist and world socialist parties.

The Alliance Party has links with the British Liberal Democrats. Centrist itself, its sole MP, Naomi Long does not actually take the Lib Dem “whip” at Westminster. Previous Leader “Lord” John Alderdice, a member of the House of Lords, does take the “whip”.

All of this is not good enough for Platform for Change. The reality is that voting for a “conservative” Party (UUP) in Norn Iron means an endorsement of unionism. And voting for a “socialist” Party (SDLP) means an endorsement of nationalism.

Its attractive to talk about non-sectarian politics but the point is that embracing mainstream British politics is merely a faux neutral stance. Embracing British politics is……….unionism.

As I have mentioned above, the signatories to the Paltform for Change agenda include members of the UUP, Alliance and SDLP. It is of course entirely honourable that they forge friendships with people outside their own Parties….but they pay a price………Suspicion within their own Parties. Basil McCrea, one of the leading liberal unionists and a signatory to Platform for Change will never lead the UUP. The leading SDLP signatory to Platform for Change (Conall McDevitt) will not lead the SDLP. Thinking “outside the box” is a good thing for politicians but the requirement for leading a Party is to be mainstream……….and to think firmly WITHIN the box. To be “safe”.

Platform for Change in Norn Iron politics is in some ways similar to The Tea Party in American politics. The difference is that Platform for Change wants to work thru (at least) three parties while The Tea Party only want to subvert one party (the Republican Party). Entry-ism similar to Militant Tendency’s infiltration into the British Labour Party in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Now….the SDLP needs to re-group and re-organise. Not mess about with “outreach”.