The Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) conference that took place last weekend concentrated upon building its party for the forthcoming Westminster elections. 

It is hoping to increase its strength in order to have more influence in a hung Parliament. 

The party distanced itself from the British government’s austerity policies when deputy leader Nigel Dodds said that “Cameron and Clegg promised that the national books would have been balanced by now and that we could start paying off our national debt. But they have failed.” 

He continued, “Families have not been spared squeeze after squeeze on their household budgets.” 

The DUP portrays itself as a people’s party in much the same way as Ukip does. But the fact that many, if not most, of the DUP MPs, MLAs and councillors come from working-class backgrounds is no guarantee that working-class interests will be defended.

Regarding the European Union, DUP spokesman Willie McCrea said: “We oppose Euro-federalism tooth and nail and will fight all the way to ensure that the people of this country are given an in-out referendum” reaffirming the fact that they are opposed to the EU but not because of the right-wing laws and monopoly policies. 

There was of course no mention of the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP), which is the full-scale attack on all publicly owned facilities.

Instead we got party leader Peter Robinson yet again putting forward the view that the only way to “balance the books is to reduce the size of the 212,000-strong public sector” and cut corporation tax, which he claimed would create 50,000 jobs in private sector. 

He went on to say that “in a few weeks time I hope that the government will finally announce that we will be given the power to set our own rate of corporation tax. This would revolutionise our economy.” 

All research shows otherwise, but this policy of attacking the public sector only goes to show how hand in glove they are with the Con-Dems. 

While the DUP tries to distance itself from Con-Dem policies it does not fight for the implementation of a tax avoidance/evasion policy that would put some billions of pounds into the public sector.

Other issues at the conference dealt with the need for a “conscience clause in relation to aspects of equality legislation for those who have strongly held religious belief” — reference here to the “Christian” Asher’s Bakery which refused to provide a wedding cake for a gay couple. 

It is not so long ago that Sammy Wilson said sarcastically at a Belfast city council meeting “you will be wanting men’s centres next” in response to women’s centres’ requesting support. 

But all of a sudden the DUP found that supporting women’s centres meant votes and then Diana Dodds was seen floating around the centres — mostly in Protestant areas. 

Finally there was the ignorant and sectarian exhibition of Gregory Campbell with his triple-jobbing status as MLA, MP and daily Nolan Show contributor, ridiculing the Irish language. 

Had it had been any other language he would be condemned under the equality laws. His dour clown performance and the attitude of the other conference delegates prove the contempt that the DUP has for the Belfast Agreement. 

This is just a taste of the DUP conference which, as one journalist said, “Big business and big farmers notwithstanding, if you’re not a Christian, heterosexual, English-speaking unionist, it’s unlikely your interests are represented here.” 

Lynda Walker is chair of the Communist Party of Ireland.