24 November 2002

The middle ground is crucial

Eoghan Harris is annoyed with with David Trimble over his remarks attacking the Republic last week.

"...why has Trimble twice attacked an Irish State that no longer exists? Some people think he's trying to flank the DUP. But as Professor Robert Mahoney remarked to me this week (returning from America to his current beat in Belfast) the UUP can't go further right than the DUP, so it might as well stay in the decent centre. That insight is crucial to the conduct of politics. Mass democratic parties should not try to flank delinquent parties. Because they end up being found out."

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