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11/02/2002
UUP criticised for demanding Orange Order dues
Senior Ulster Unionist William Ross has criticised the UUP for making a "backdoor attempt" to reduce the influence of the Orange Order in the party's ruling council.
The former Londonderry MP – and leading Orange Order member – made his comments following the party executive's decision to demand £100 fees from each of the institution's 120 delegates attending the Ulster Unionist Council.
"The movers behind this proposal will be expecting that many of the county grand lodges will not pay the fees and they will in turn lose some of their delegate entitlement," Mr Ross said. "However, under current party rules it would be at least two years before any penalty could be applied against the county lodges, if in default, and therefore, in the short term, it is not going to make much difference."
Delegates from the 18 constituency areas are currently expected to pay £200 a year each to attend the 860-strong ruling council and the executive's decision was described as an attempt to bring the Order into line – albeit at half the usual annual fee. Last year, the Orange Order paid between £500-£1000 in total for their delegates.
Defending the decision, senior Ulster Unionist party officer James Cooper said: "The party has had its eye off the ball and had overlooked the matter of setting the fees for the Orange Order for a number of years.
"The Orange delegates are only being asked to pay half the amount paid by the constituency delegates because we do not want to impose a sudden and heavy burden.
"But everyone needs to recognise that a party like ours needs funds and payment should be spread across the board."
Belfast Grand Master Dawson Bailie dismissed that suggestion and believes that the payment for fees was "payback because we couldn't recommend that our members support the Good Friday Agreement".
Mr Bailie said: "I see this as a ploy. When they realised they couldn't get us out of the party because they couldn't get the support of two-thirds of the Ulster Unionist Council, they had to think up another way."
From the Ulster Unionist party's beginnings in 1905, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has been at the heart of the political party, a relationship which the current leadership has been keen to dilute.
On April 17 2000, the council rejected a leadership motion to remove the 120-delegate Orange Order voting block.
(GMcG)
The former Londonderry MP – and leading Orange Order member – made his comments following the party executive's decision to demand £100 fees from each of the institution's 120 delegates attending the Ulster Unionist Council.
"The movers behind this proposal will be expecting that many of the county grand lodges will not pay the fees and they will in turn lose some of their delegate entitlement," Mr Ross said. "However, under current party rules it would be at least two years before any penalty could be applied against the county lodges, if in default, and therefore, in the short term, it is not going to make much difference."
Delegates from the 18 constituency areas are currently expected to pay £200 a year each to attend the 860-strong ruling council and the executive's decision was described as an attempt to bring the Order into line – albeit at half the usual annual fee. Last year, the Orange Order paid between £500-£1000 in total for their delegates.
Defending the decision, senior Ulster Unionist party officer James Cooper said: "The party has had its eye off the ball and had overlooked the matter of setting the fees for the Orange Order for a number of years.
"The Orange delegates are only being asked to pay half the amount paid by the constituency delegates because we do not want to impose a sudden and heavy burden.
"But everyone needs to recognise that a party like ours needs funds and payment should be spread across the board."
Belfast Grand Master Dawson Bailie dismissed that suggestion and believes that the payment for fees was "payback because we couldn't recommend that our members support the Good Friday Agreement".
Mr Bailie said: "I see this as a ploy. When they realised they couldn't get us out of the party because they couldn't get the support of two-thirds of the Ulster Unionist Council, they had to think up another way."
From the Ulster Unionist party's beginnings in 1905, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has been at the heart of the political party, a relationship which the current leadership has been keen to dilute.
On April 17 2000, the council rejected a leadership motion to remove the 120-delegate Orange Order voting block.
(GMcG)
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