In the recent Stormont Assembly elections the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) suffered a disappointing election result, failing to take a single seat. This has led many, including senior party members, to ask whether or not the PUP, the political wing of the UVF, has a future as a serious political organisation. If what we are now witnessing is indeed the demise of the PUP, this is a disappointing development in the politics of the North, and potentially, for the peace process. As the only self identifying socialist party on the Unionist side of the fence, the PUP brought a unique perspective to the political spectrum of the North.
The PUP’s woes did not begin with the 2011 election; the organisation was thrown into crisis in 2010 when their then leader, Dawn Purvis, resigned her membership of the organisation in protest of continued UVF violence. With Purvis, the PUP lost their only elected MLA and the person who many felt could lead the party out from under the shadow of the UVF. However, in hindsight it is unsurprising that Purvis was unable to get to grips with the paradox at the heart of the PUP; an organisation linked to sectarian gunmen on the one hand, and liberal cross community values on the other. This is a difficult game to play and requires leaders who can command the respect of both sides of the coin, paramilitary and political. The untimely death of the highly respected David Ervine deprived the PUP, and Loyalisim, of the only figure who had a realistic chance of commanding the respect of both halves.
Once Purvis resigned the PUP seemed to regress somewhat socially. The 2011 manifesto was in many ways, a step backwards compared to the 2007 manifesto, making no reference to Human Rights, sexual equality or racism. The PUP ran no female candidates in the last election, and their leader, Brian Ervine, strongly disagreed with his own party’s pro-choice position.
However the PUP remained a largely progressive party, focused on dealing with serious issues facing the Protestant working class such as poor housing, educational underachievement (see Dawn Purvis’ recent report), benefit cuts, working class participation in the PSNI and a range of other issues. In addition to this the PUP were serious about improving inter-communal relations, proposing financial incentives for parents to enrol their children into integrated schools and increased cultural interchange. The PUP was the only Unionist party to have a representative at the recent Belfast St Patricks Day parade
It has been argued that the above is all smoke and mirrors, and the real issue on which people should be judging the PUP is their continued association with the UVF. However, Republicans have demonstrated that it is possible to slowly move towards a more political path, while maintaining a paramilitary link. Indeed that link can facilitate the disarmament and normalisation of said groups. Whether there is now anything left of the PUP worth saving is another question, but there is no doubt that at one time the PUP looked like it had the potential to have a positive impact on the lives of people in the North. The demise of that potential, if not the organisation itself, is to be regretted.
The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) has developed and launched www.counterextremism.org, an online resource for policy makers working on radicalisation and polarisation. It includes an easily searchable up-to-date repository of government policies and programmes, both current and historical, and contains a log of case studies and evaluated best practices. This library of resources acts as a one-stop-shop for those working to tackle radicalisation and polarisation, contains a diary of forthcoming events and meetings, and has an ‘expert finder’. The website also has the capability to support online practitioner network forums, ‘hot topic’ and crisis response chat rooms, and expert facilitated discussions. Funded by the European Commission, it is intended to help policy makers, decision makers, practitioners and academics to exchange information and examples of good practice, stay in touch, and remain up-to-date with latest developments.
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton today delivered a speech in Geneva to mark Human Rights day. This speech focused on LGBT human rights and is quoted in 
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