What ensued was a dialectic of stubborn self-righteousness within Northern Ireland between unionist and nationalist. Paisley became involved in Ulster unionist/loyalist politics in the late 1950s. The Executive is led by a diarchy representing unionist and nationalist members of the Assembly. The poppy has long been the preserve of the unionist/loyalist community. This alliance then developed into the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. Loach supported the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in the 2012 London Assembly election. During Reconstruction, the rift between Unionist and Secessionist Democrats remained. Whitman was a staunch Unionist during the Civil War. These remarks provoked outrage among unionist politicians. Guinness was a protestant Christian and pro-British Unionist. A series of meetings between the Liberal government and Unionist opposition members was agreed. However, the city was split with tensions between Irish Catholics and Unionist Protestants. Ulster Unionist Party leader Edward Carson expressed similar views. This was voted down by SDLP and Unionist councillors. The UUP was affiliated with the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations until 1985.