These people, some of whom chose to hide behind anonymity when, despite all of their complaining about the policies of the DUP, have totally and utterly failed to outline any alternative strategy that would take unionism anywhere other than straight down the road to a united Ireland.

Let’s deal with a few realities. Northern Ireland is still inside the Union. Sinn Fein has been forced to accept the authority of our British legal institutions and our police service. Unionists have a veto on North-South co-operation.

The IRA has been disarmed, according to the most recent Independent Monitoring Commission report.

Northern Ireland is slowly but surely moving forward into a society that is at ease with itself and is peaceful.

What would the dissidents harping at the DUP be doing so much better and so much different from Northern Ireland’s biggest party?

Those attacking the DUP would rather Northern Ireland slipped back to the bad old days of civil disturbance rather than concede the principle of sharing power with people who disagree with them.

I would really like to hear what realistic proposals they would have which would be capable of commanding support.

Sitting po-faced and sulking, with a wish-list in hand, on the sidelines accusing other people of sell-out is very easy but producing an alternative strategy, as the DUP has done, is not.

Yours etc., Lynn, Ballymoney.