Ray Smallwoods - Political Involvement

Political Involvement

As well as his role with the Inner Council Smallwoods was also made the public spokesman for the Ulster Democratic Party following his release from prison. He became party chairman in the early 1990s and around this time also became liaison officer for the UDA to the Combined Loyalist Military Command. During the early 1990s Smallwoods was in regular contact with the Progressive Unionist Party's Gusty Spence and took part in the so-called "kitchen cabinets" held in Spence's home in which leading loyalist politicians and paramilitaries met to discuss possible strategies for peace.

Smallwoods was noted for his strong working-class loyalist approach to Northern Irish politics, which strayed away from more middle-class unionism. It was also noted by both Ian S. Wood and an Observer journalist that Smallwoods sometimes struggled with his dual role as politician and paramilitary director, often beginning interviews by calling the UDA "them" before eventually switching to "us". Having come from a background in the UDA in the 1970s, Smallwoods was sympathetic to Ulster nationalism and during his chairmanship he placed the notion of an independent Northern Ireland at the heart of party policy. According to Gusty Spence however Ulster nationalism was a fallback position for Smallwoods who also recognised the impracticalities of the idea, a plan that Spence had no truck with.