CONSERVATIVE LEADER:CONSERVATIVE LEADER David Cameron told the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) conference that he would never be neutral in terms of supporting the union of Northern Ireland with Britain.
The pledge came in the context of Mr Cameron's promise to honour Britain's international obligations. The Tory leader also said that if the UUP and Conservative Party formed a new alliance in 2009, the "dynamic new force" in politics would contest every constituency in the next Westminster general election.
The Tory leader said the proposed alignment was important to his party despite the fact there were some who wondered "why we are tying our parties together".
He rejected the notion of "no-go areas" for Conservatives or that the party should only concentrate on England. "I believe that Conservatives and unionists are better together than apart. It comes down to three things: a deep commitment to the union; a strong belief in democracy; and a great respect for the Ulster Unionist Party," he said.
Arguing for the alignment between the two parties, Mr Cameron said the "semi-detached status of Northern Ireland politics needs to end". He supported devolution and wanted to see the Northern Executive work but there were also non-devolved issues such as taxation, public expenditure, pensions, the broad thrust of social policy, defence and foreign affairs that needed to be addressed.
"As things stand, Northern Ireland MPs are effectively excluded from exerting a real influence on any of these matters. This is not true representative democracy and it has got to change. That's not just in the interests of Northern Ireland - it's in the interests of the United Kingdom. It's in my own selfish and strategic interests, too," he said.
Mr Cameron reiterated that if the alliance is formally agreed that the "new force" will contest every Westminster constituency, which would rule out a pact between Ulster Unionists and the DUP to try to take the SDLP seat of Alasdair McDonnell in South Belfast and of Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew in Fermanagh South-Tyrone.
"We look forward to offering a new choice to the people of Northern Ireland. First at the European elections - where it is essential we see Jim Nicholson returned to the Conservative group in Strasbourg - and then at the general election. We will be the only party contesting every seat in every part of the United Kingdom on one joint manifesto," he said.
Mr Cameron made implicit reference to some concerns that he might disavow one of the central tenets of recent British-Irish agreements, that Britain has no "selfish strategic or economic interest" in Northern Ireland, and that the "consent principle" dictates that centrally it is for the people of Northern Ireland to determine its constitutional future.
He said the "consent principle is paramount, enshrined in national and international law".
"As prime minister I will always honour Britain's international obligations," he added.
"I will continue to work closely and constructively with our nearest neighbours in the Republic of Ireland and I will always uphold the democratic wishes of people here in respect of their constitutional future. But I will never be neutral when it comes to expressing my support for the union.
"So, today, let us pledge ourselves to come together as Conservatives and unionists in a new and dynamic political force in Northern Ireland.
"For the good of our parties. But, above all, for the good of the people and our United Kingdom."
He said the proposed alignment would be a "party of the union, that's what brings us together".