30 October 1997 Edition
Time to embrace change
David Trimble's speech to his party conference last Saturday did not give any hope that he is the leader who will take Unionists into a new era. Even though it was to be expected that Trimble would give a hardline speech, it is clear that what he said represents his long-held thinking.
David Trimble still does not see that change must happen. His only concession was a patronising appeal to nationalists to tell him what would ``validate their sense of identity''. Trimble gave no recognition that that is nowhere near what these talks are about. Instead of ruling everything out and hiding behind a crumbling veto, it is about time that Trimble embraced the need for change and led his party towards a democratic future with the rest of the Irish people.
David Trimble still does not see that change must happen. His only concession was a patronising appeal to nationalists to tell him what would ``validate their sense of identity''. Trimble gave no recognition that that is nowhere near what these talks are about. Instead of ruling everything out and hiding behind a crumbling veto, it is about time that Trimble embraced the need for change and led his party towards a democratic future with the rest of the Irish people.
