Orangemen Will Vote SDLP

Roy Garland in the Irish News (subs needed) picks up on a fascinating piece of research by Professor Jonathan Tonge et al of the University of Liverpool who found that over five per cent of Orangemen surveyed were likely to vote SDLP. A further 14 per cent would consider giving the SDLP their second preference.

The meaning behind this is open to debate, but it is certainly interesting that hardline unionists may be prepared to vote SDLP, indicating that Protestant voters (beyond those categorised simply as ‘unionist’) of the broader church would probably be even more likely to vote SDLP.

Indeed, if these are the figures for Orangemen who are likely to vote SDLP, there may be even more who actually will vote SDLP, for tactical reasons for instance.

Maybe the SDLP’s long-term policy of promoting a united Ireland without the need for the bullet or the bomb could pay off, especially now that they are so vividly juxtaposed against Sinn Féin in terms of electoral supremacy. The excellent ‘North South Makes Sense’ document pointed out benefits of reunification which even unionists couldn’t disagree with (although we have heard lamentably little from the campaign since its launch).

Mr. Garland also notes that bizarrely, two per cent of Orangemen would vote for Sinn Féin if they couldn’t support their favoured unionist party. Professor Tonge said that those who chose this option may have misread the question (we all knew that Orangemen don’t tend to be the sharpest tools in the shed anyway!), but that some Orange DUP supporters are so consumed with hatred for the UUP that perhaps a vote for the provisionals is not impossible in constituencies where the DUP doesn’t stand.

Gerry Adams has already proven that he is chomping at the bit to support Ian Paisley’s candidacy as First Minister. Perhaps this is payback by the Orangemen… [ElBlogador.com]