As someone who has been involved in Northern Irish politics for the past two and a half years, I find that with every election there are always those few candidates. Those candidates who you can tell clearly have been brought in from London or the Midlands. Who knows nothing about the circumstances and history of Northern Ireland. Who couldn’t tell you even the basics of politics here in Northern Ireland. And no one exemplifies that more this election than the Unity candidate here for Belfast, /u/Perekai.

Now, I have nothing against Unity as a party. I have some friends in Unity. However, as a politician I cannot condone policies and rhetoric which clearly are tone deaf and absurd while running to be MP for anywhere in Northern Ireland.

In their election manifesto, Unity calls for an investigation of Northern Irish Party’s designation as unionist and to consider redesignating them. And despite valid criticism of this bad policy, Unity candidates have only doubled down on this policy, with Perekai calling the criticism a “slanderous campaign” from the Government.

Now it must be said that it is not only the Government which is criticising them but let’s take the rebuttal on face value. Are the criticisms of Unity’s policy simply empty air and slanderous? In one word: No.

As the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who defended the Government’s stance against this ludicrous policy demand, I believe I have something to say. This demand from Unity and some members of the Labour Party is really quite absurd for a few reasons.

One of them is the obvious answer that just because you don’t like their brand of Unionism, doesn’t mean they’re not Unionist. As Secretary of State, I acknowledged that some people can be concerned about the NIP’s brand of unionism. However, they are nonetheless Unionist and the people of Northern Ireland voted for them to be so. If the people of Northern Ireland saw an affront to the idea that the NIP redesignated as Unionist, they quite frankly would not have seen a 10.88% rise in the last election. Rather than be seen as power hungry exploitation, the people of Northern Ireland have put their faith in NIP as the largest Unionist party and they have continued that confidence through two elections. In contrast, the Unity Party has no such confidence. Quite frankly, Perekai, it does not matter that you “do not trust them to speak for unionist voices in Northern Ireland.” The people and unionist voters of Northern Ireland simply do not agree with you.

The other point that also must be raised is how antithetical it is to both the GFA and the Peace Process. In negotiations for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, as demanded by the GFA, one of the primary rights to be touched on has been the right to self designate. And this is a right that has been affirmed both in the GFA and the overall peace process. The right to self designate is a fundamental right for peace in Northern Ireland and it is quite absurd and astonishing that a party that claims to be for the Union and stability to be fighting for something so antithetical to the Peace Process here in Northern Ireland.

It also must be said the level at which people overestimate the tensions in the Assembly. Yes, there are tensions between the Ulster Borders Party and the Executive. But are these cracks so unstable and severe as Unity and other parties would have you believe? No, not really. The people clamouring that this tension is some near unprecedented situation in recent years are quite honestly just showing how little they know about Northern Ireland. Then again, that should not be surprising for a candidate who only managed to show their face in the 11th hour and knows very little about Northern Ireland. The people clamouring that this is so concerning I can tell did not even pay attention to Northern Irish politics of 2 years ago for the fights between SDLP and UWP if they are so innocent to believe this tension is unprecedented. It must be said that tensions should be avoided when possible but the current tensions are hardly insurmountable and seeking to worsen tensions by going against the GFA and the Peace Process is foolhardy. It is just not true that the current situation is an unprecedented danger and in claiming that it is, Unity and other parties only show how little they know about Northern Ireland.

If you want a candidate who actually knows Northern Ireland and will fight for you, not for London, then it is not Unity. For a real fighter for Northern Ireland, the clear choice this election is the Solidarity candidate, abrokenhero. They have fought for the people of Northern Ireland for years now, not barely knowing up from down like some candidates. They will fight for the people, not the corporations. They will fight for a better future for all of Northern Ireland, not all in London. Vote abrokenhero for a true hero for Belfast. Vote Solidarity for a future you can believe in. Vote abrokenhero and Solidarity.