DIMBLEBY: Were you dismayed to see the actions of the political leaders of the Ulster Unionists at Drumcree? MAJOR: It depends which particular actions you have in mind. I was delighted that they urged people to be restrained. I was delighted that the political leaders all urged the loyalists not to respond. NOT only did Major refuse to condemn the mass unionist law-breaking, he made light of the sectarian violence directed at the nationalist population, telling their political leaders to "rise above these relatively minor matters".
His interview is without doubt the most deceitful and the most offensive given by a Prime Minister in relation to the north of Ireland.
When asked about the assault on the Garvaghy Road he said: "the Orange Lodge were wrong in seeking to proceed as they did, and I think the Garvaghy Road residents were unreasonable to refuse to discuss and to compromise for a long time on how a peaceful Orange march parade could have passed through the estate."
Last year the residents, pernaps naively, conceeded that the march could go through on the basis that the march not be turned into a sectarian victory parade. This concession Was spat back in their faces. This year independent mediators confirmed that they made attempts on behalf of the residents to get the Lodge involved in talks to find long term solutions -the Lodge would have none of it.
Dimbleby also asked Major: "did the Chief Constable not ask for advice?"
Major replied: "He didn't ask for advice and he has made that clear".
He claims that no pressure was put on the chief constable to reverse his decision.
But he has yet to explain how Trimble and Paisley were able to assure the Orangemen that they would be walking in the morning the night before the decision was made public.
Major promised the unionists the decision would be changed when he met them a few hours before they flew off to Drumcree to pass on the good news.
The events were a political trial of strength not about the right to march, but about the future of the peace process.
The Unionists chose the moment to set out the demands of the grass roots before substantive talks had got underway. The message is loud and clear-the unionist veto is not to be touched.
An important political victory has been won. The Unionists know it. Major knows it Major would prefer the Unionists to trust him; and to be a little less reactionary.
But he is quite prepared to accommodate to their gangsterism. He has the nerve to say that the victims of sectarian aggression are more-or-less to blame for their own misfortune. He dresses his vicious advice up with the language of modesty and moderation.
He is nothing of the sort He is an arch reactionary, leading an increasingly reactionary government. The sooner British workers get rid of him and his party the better.