Competition brings parties towards the median voter whether those voters are unionist or nationalist.

If you think of NI as two separate electorates then competition in each electorate should move the two parties to the median voter in each electorate.

However if you think of NI as one electorate, and you have only two parties - one unionist one nationalist - then having two parties means they each have an incentive to move to the centre to capture the swaying middle voters.

If you have two parties on the nationalist side and one on the unionist side then the unionist party has an incentive to move to the centre but the nationalist parties do not.

And vice versa.

Of course, the above assumes that no new parties would emerge if parties move 'too far'. In fact on both unionist and nationalist sides if their parties moved too far to the centre then the risk exists that a new hardline party could break off. (That could happen to the DUP post Paisley, or SF post Adams, for example).

Browne's piece is not terribly analytical on these points, just asserting for no reason that competition on one side has a different nature than another.

Hardly fascinating. The 'Trimble didn't sell the agreement' line is something we've all heard before and is nothing new. There are multiple factors why Trimble fell.

Also I find the insinuation that a female leader wouldn't work for Unionists quite insulting. And I'm not even a Unionist.

"Also I find the insinuation that a female leader wouldn't work for Unionists quite insulting. And I'm not even a Unionist."

Tend to agree-this is an old fashioned view. The female Foster, Dodds, Herman, and Robinson. Their names initially known to us through their husbands, admittedly, but their subsequent vote getting performance very strong, based on their own abilities.

I've actually found Hermon quite likeable and personality wise would make a good leader.

That said, I don't think she could unite the party, particularly the more hardline members, and I'd also have to question whether having Lady Hermon as leader would help shake off image that the UUP is the preserve of the middle-class.

It's unfortunate but 'image' means a lot in politics.

Slyvia is perfect for North Down but doesn't travel well.

Vincent Browne, like Tim Pat Coogan, has a worldview that, when distilled, amounts to: all things unionist = bad, and all things nationalist, no matter how bad, = better than the best of unionism.

Mick described this dirge as "fascinating analysis". He must be easily fascinated.

beano

I'd also have to question whether having Lady Hermon as leader would help shake off image that the UUP is the preserve of the middle-class.

I think the middle-class is where they should be looking for support. You won't out-Paisley Paisley in working class areas.

It's unfortunate but 'image' means a lot in politics.

Who has a better image than Lady Hermon? The two Lords? Or your pick from the losers?