UUP PEB: Fed up with being spectators?
This election looks set to be the first fought on YouTube… UUP’s Election Broadcast available online, first!
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Do Words Matter?: Book Review of Political Discourse and Conflict Resolution – Debating Peace in Northern Ireland
I share many of the concerns of Andy Pollak, whose recent post ‘My Response to the Slugger Begrudgers’ zeroed in on the ‘relentless flow of negativity’ of some Slugger commentators. Pollak’s post was largely concerned with the medium of the blog. Indeed, I think the anonymity of the online world encourages extreme discourse and allows [...] read our review »
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Christopher Hitchens, 1949 – 2011
Writer Christopher Hitchens has died aged 62. He was as contrary as he was brilliant. Here is a brief In Memoriam from Vanity Fair (his outlet of choice since 1992) and, here, a longer tribute from his friend Christopher Buckley Stanley in The New Yorker. Better, perhaps, though to post one of Hitchens’ own writings in [...] read our review »
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The ANC, the IRA and the rise of influence of the left within Sinn Fein…
World by Storm has a nice piece up on the IRA’s role in helping MK, the armed wing of the ANC, in the 1980s. In particular he sees a strange alchemy at work there: …if one can think of a clearly legitimate contemporary struggle it was that against apartheid and it is to the credit [...] read our review »
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I like it. It’s fresh, it’s positive, progressive and forward looking.
A lot better than the negative PEB from the DUP which as of yet has not made it online.
Speaking of the DUP, no election website up and running yet and no PEB to show?
Were they that embarrassed about it?
Lol … What are they suggesting that actually, yes, they have members?
I was waiting for it to come up after Sir Reg Empey came up on screen … Sir Reg Empey … Politican … AND … UUP Member!
The UUP is trying to make some appeal to voters. They make issue with the ‘Punch and Judy’ politics between the DUP and Sinn Fein. But unfortunately there are some burning issues to be sorted out. And weren’t the UUP once involved in the ‘Punch and Judy’ Politics, once many many dark years ago?
However I think people can sympathize with the very fact we need to ‘move on’.
But the UU’s started this process and the DUP will finish it, and indeed make a better job of it.
If you want to see reconstructed terrorists in government that fair enough. After all you allowed them in on 3 separate occasions!
I want fair, accountable and STABLE government. But not at any cost.
In summary my analysis for what its worth is that the UUP are scrabbling for every and any vote they can get. They make no appeal to me.
And by the way – nice shot of Stormont with the Union flags up were they belong – but it’s just a pity they aren’t up more often than 17 days in the year! Its just a pity the UUP is no longer a Unionist Party.
Ok nice people pattering on with the usual banalities and the usual begging bowl out for more public services in a state which is already drowning in a 70% public sector economy ?????
The Punch & Judy piece on McGuinness /Paisley was’nt bad , but anybody with half a brain knows that if it’s not to be the former P& J combination then which combination can it possibly be ? UUP & SF ? DUP & SDLP ? Empey means well but lets face it even Enda Kenny is convincing in comparison
Spectators in their own country ? IIRC this sound bite was/and is still the staple mantra of Northern Ireland’s nationalist and republican population since the NI State was founded ? Is it not ironic that the UUP are now opposing being spectators when being ‘spectators ‘ was what their party leadership under Molyneaux advocated for most of the 1980′s and 90′s ?
‘It’s fresh, it’s positive, progressive and forward looking. ‘
???????????????????????? Not to this viewer it isn’t . Have heard it all before Joe . Deeds not words .
observer
“They make no appeal to me.”
in the fine words of steps ‘tragedy’.
Observer
I think the UUP and the UKUP are the Unionist Parties, the DUP have become the SNP of Northern Ireland i.e they should be the DNP.
I wouldn’t put the DUP/DNP in charge of a bun fight in a bakery. They would be throwing bread rolls and calling them fairy cakes – but a lot of people will notice that this time round – we now our bread rolls from our fairy cakes just as we know Never! Never! Never! from Yes! Yes! Yes!
That was a Party Election Broadcast for the ……Alliance party.
Looks like Reg and Co have gievn up on recapturing the hearts of mainstream unionists and are making sure that Alliance don’t take any other votes from them.
If the UUP lose any seats in this election (say 4 or 5) will Reg resign?
Piss poor, where’s the politicians. Election boradcasts are all about making them familiar to the public. A wasted opportunity. But then given the UUP’s previous ad campaigns the fact they have fecked this up doesn’t surprise me
Frustrated democrat
‘but a lot of people will notice that this time round – we now our bread rolls from our fairy cakes just as we know Never! Never! Never! from Yes! Yes! Yes!’
This quote of yours conjured up in the mind an image of the oul rustic in the Vicar of Dibley who when asked something would repeat No No No No No No No and then Yes seventeen times before saying No . Welcome to the new DUP world where now yes is no and no is yes . They must have learnt it from SF ?
I thought it was nicely done. The message that the DUP and SF can’t work together is one that is worth making now, because it will only grow stronger if the new executive becomes logjammed.
“Piss poor, where’s the politicians”
Its kind of nice to see some normal people tho
I thought it was well produced. Though Reg was the weakest bit in it (other than Basil’s wig, which deserves a list placing all of its own): every other odd & sod seemed to understand that, when doing telly, speak (ie talk “naturally”, conversationally), don’t speechify (ie NEVER raise your voice on TV, it just doesn’t work). Of course the fundamental message is pants: “Bad DUP, planing to go into office with Sinn Fein, hiss, boo!” Yeah, right, that’s a line that the UUP are going to be able to make stick.
You do get a glimpse tho’
It won’t be this Assembly election….
but the next one will be a cracker!
Have seen both DUP and UUP broadcasts now…I think both parties need a good PR consultant. Do unionists smile?
Karl Rove
The very point is that the DUP have NOT said they’re going into government with Sinn Fein – THEY’RE COMMITTMENT FREE SO FAR.
Indeed tonight’s Belfast Telegraph states that Downing St will be concerned with the content or lack of content in the DUP Manifesto because there’s more hurdles to cross just to keep the 12 Apostles happy.
Um, I’m dismissing Reg’s chances of making this particular, bogus line of attack stick. Anyone else remember the keeness with which Disco Legs Dave was always keen to jump into bed with SF? Oh yeah, the entire sodding electorate does.
answers to your questions my DUP friend.
“Lol … What are they suggesting that actually, yes, they have members?”
yes, that our members make up the community, work, live and breathe like every one else and have a stake in our society.
“I was waiting for it to come up after Sir Reg Empey came up on screen … Sir Reg Empey … Politican … AND … UUP Member!”
funny!
“The UUP is trying to make some appeal to voters. They make issue with the ‘Punch and Judy’ politics between the DUP and Sinn Fein. But unfortunately there are some burning issues to be sorted out. And weren’t the UUP once involved in the ‘Punch and Judy’ Politics, once many many dark years ago?”
what are these burning issues, stuff like IMC that peter spoke of this morning, the sme imc that the DUP voted against? as for punch and judy, yes we were involved while you lot sat on sidelines fannying about and oh, yeah, took your Executive seats
“However I think people can sympathize with the very fact we need to ‘move on’.”
how very gracious of you.
“But the UU’s started this process and the DUP will finish it, and indeed make a better job of it.”
the bit where ceasar’s son rides on to the battlefield after the fighting is done springs to mind here,
“If you want to see reconstructed terrorists in government that fair enough. After all you allowed them in on 3 separate occasions!”
we started the ball rolling on decommissioning, again the DUP were in government at the same time and only came out when we collapsed it. pussies.
“I want fair, accountable and STABLE government. But not at any cost.”
so let’s carck on with plan b then until you lot get ur hardcore haedbangers on board that agreement fundamentals are only show in town.
“In summary my analysis for what its worth is that the UUP are scrabbling for every and any vote they can get. They make no appeal to me.”
bo shank put it best
“And by the way – nice shot of Stormont with the Union flags up were they belong – but it’s just a pity they aren’t up more often than 17 days in the year! Its just a pity the UUP is no longer a Unionist Party.”
pity indeed.
Personally I found it a powerful PEB, and a refreshing change from the usual politics of fear. Good looking unionists!
The line about looking to the future and building new coalitions is interesting. Could this relate to the suggestion of a future ‘moderate’ opposition?
It is not a bad effort from the UUP. The production values are reasonable except for the Hearts and Minds inspired caricatures (better artist required next time).
The use of ordinary members is a sensible tactic. It presents a younger and fresher image and much preferable to using the uninspiring bunch that are the UUP candidates.
However, they were light and somewhat weak in the message department. The “Punch and Judy” stuff is a re-hash of an argument that failed in previous elections. The normal politics stuff would have flown better if they actually made a few suggestions of what they would like to do (especially as they didn’t make a particularly good job of it the last time). The choice of going with a strong emphasis on quick devolution will also hamper any attempt to attack the DUP on St Andrews. I also wasn’t sure if the final line(s) was the UUP’s election slogan, anyone know?
The DUP one was ok. It was their first serous attempt at being more positive while trying to avoid over-selling. The UUP went overboard in its selling of the Belfast Agreement and were made to eat it for years afterward. Certainly streaks ahead of that god awful slit wrists doom-laden gathering storm clouds panic-mongering headlines etc they used in the last Assembly election. (They really should have asked Stena Line to have paid for that one).
In the visuals department, the glaring error was Paisley’s hair sticking up in all directions There is discussion among the electorate about the impact of age on Paisley that poor imagery can encourage. It also seemed as if Gregory was being blinded by the sun as he did his to-camera piece.
Quite good- at least it tried to focus on real issues, as opposed to the DUP’s usual foaming at the mouth over ‘Sinn Féin/ IRA’. Despite the odd sectarian flight of fancy, the UUP seem to care about creating a better future, unlike the Paisleyites.
Anyone got a link to the DUP’s PEB?
Not bad. A lot better than the DUP one.
Very positive and forward looking – much better than the usual doom and gloom/ smash Sinn Fein broken record of previous campaigns.
One small point – the PEB claims that the DUP and Sinn Fein are two parties that “won’t talk to each other”.
It’s a one way street – it’s the DUP who refuse to talk to Sinn Fein.
I’m not a Sinn Fein suuporter or voter – I just think they are trying to convey a false impression.
A far better effort than the DUP one I saw the other day (spooky music, badly framed shots and everyone speaking with the same stilted, constipated tone of voice and where was wee Jeffrey apart from a 2 second piece of archive footage?).
The UUP PEB didn’t have any spark though and they’ll need a spark if they want to get their voters out.
I’m just glad I’m not a unionist.
“Good looking unionists!” – Token Dissent…
Reg good looking?
it looks ok as a PEB just a pity they waffle on.
Good to see Jenny Dunn actually doing something for unionism, or what she would class as unionism. its a pity such efforts cannot be made in SRC.
The UUP one was a nice change from the usual stuff, positive but light-weight.
I’m afraid the DUP one on Monday night was all about not letting SF get bigger than them, but the usual real fire was reserved for the DUP.
Then Robinson (the trousered one) has the cheek to say today that they aren’t concerned with the UUP any more.
Someday, the people will see through the tiresome scare-mongering.
The UUP are desparate when their Press officer has to come onto Slugger to defend the party he is trying to represent.
But hey Benjamin … at least we didn’t have fish and chips this time ;0
The UUP can moan all they want, no one is listening and there’s two elections to prove that.
The DUP is a strong, united and Unionist team seeking a fair deal for the people of this province.
Stablity is a key to a future.
au contraire observer, i think it says more of your desperation that you have repeat the same old mantra of an automaton on ‘nobody’s listening, two elections, fair deal’ etc etc, i presume the 2 grand rule applies to you too yeah? lol
I really fear that by the time this election comes around, I will feel 10 years older than I do now.
As a Republican and clearly not part of the target audience I liked it.
As others have noted it could have been mistaken for a APNI broadcast and I found it at odds with their pre-election posturing.
A well thought out strategical measure to draw votes from Alliance and stop any ‘moderate’ drift but not something that seems to scream fightback.
My number “1″ will go to the SDLP but I will transfer to the UUP on my ticket.
Despite fundemental political differences, I believe they would work well together on the day-to-day issues. The same can’t be said for the SF/DUP “It’s not us, it’s them!” crowd.
SDLP voter,
Have the SDLP really moved so far to the right and away from Nationalism that their voters see the UUP as a natural 2nd preference? Not APNI? UUP?
I really don’t think you’re indicative or to be honest really an SDLP voter.
Observer
“The DUP is a strong, united and Unionist team”
Really! – they haven’t seen too united lately.
“Stablity is a key to a future”.
That’s a joke. Now that Sinn Fein have now signed up to policing (which they should have done long ago), the DUP will simply create more obstacles to power sharing to appease their backwoodsmen.
I have severe doubts that this executive will ever happen, given the deliberate ambiguity of the DUP manifesto.
However, even if it does, I give it a matter of weeks before the DUP brings it to a halt on some pretext or other.
The difference is that, this time, the UK govt has had it’s fill of NI. If the executive is brought down, it’ll be on to plan B which is quite ironic as that is even more distasteful to Unionists.
The DUP simply don’t want to share power and, therefore, your idea of “stability” is pie in the sky.
Billy,
The DUP simply don’t want to share power and, therefore, your idea of “stability†is pie in the sky.
I agree, they see powersharing, normal political cooperation as a step, (however minuscule) towards the dreaded United Ireland and god forbid equality with Catholics.
They have committed to nothing and done nothing for the people. Same old sectarian bullshit. I’ll be amazed if they do a deal and face down their hardliners.
Is there any sort of consequence in the UUP for screwing up worse than anyone ever screwed up in the whole fricking century before you? I only ask because the election has brought back some spacers we haven’t seen on Slugger for an age. Like AB up there:
Seriously, what would you have to do in the modern UUP to get your P45? F*ck Reg’s cat?
Well done!!!
This is a sea change from the frolic of David and Daphne.
It even plays well in California.
Who was the spin doctor?
take away the shots of the union flag and it was an alliance video.
UUP might do ok, as might the SDLP. Folk getting tired of the drama queens methinks.
Queens Unionist
U appear quite hostile towards the UUP.
As an independant on SRC the only “political party” who deal with issues connected to the Students union are the UUP lot. Throughout this academic year they have dealt with the SSHH campaign, elections to the SRC, accountability of the sabbatical and non-sabbatical officers and i’m sure other key issues.
Whereas the DUP are more concerned with singing the national anthem, dealing with the Trident missile system, attacking executive members because they have an irish name, and opposing the irish folk music society.
It should comfort the unionists and wider community at queens that the UUP at queens, under Jenny Dunn, deal with student specific issues and not a bigoted sectarian agenda.
That was refreshingly non-sectarian. It lacked the bombast or doom and gloom associated with dark rumblings about land prices in Scotland. Good to see young people featuring so heavily. Pity the image isn’t reflected more in their candidates.
Haven’t seen the others, although I am sure the SDLP had to wait nervously while teams of crack black-ops libel lawyers told them they were a go. Bravado from the inexperienced is often amusing.
I look forward to the DUP one, and hope that they maintain the link to the great Anglo-Irish gothic writers as they weave the Fear in the Big House scenario with the politics of the prick tease.
Read on another thread that Nelson Mandela is in the SF one? It seems Adams still has his eyes on the Aras prize. Positions like President would seem to suit SF, in that they require no tough policy decisions on regular non-constitutional issues, a clear, thought-out economic strategy, or the need to deal with the reality of the EU.
GavBelfast
the DUP one on Monday night was all about not letting SF get bigger than them,
Stupidity, for the message that that would send out in Republican and Nationalist quarters is SF matters SDLP don’t. Of course the DUP need the threat so in their sick world this probably makes sense.
What a bunch of wasters.
Nice women in that PEB: very unusual for the UUP!
Haven’t seen the DUP so can’t do a compare and contrast yet.
Had the DUP round our door last night. They have a mini A5 document listing what Lisburn has become due to their ‘help’. They no longer have the brass balls to take outright credit no more.
Karl Rove,
You’re brutal mate lmfao…ps, reg’s cat: Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.
“I really don’t think you’re indicative or to be honest really an SDLP voter.”
but what about Eddie McGrady telling people to transfer their vote to the UUP?
Its a wider issue than simply voting along sectarian lines, the SDLP and the UUP are the parties who genuinely want to make it work. I am a UUP voter but I will be transferring to the SDLP because they are the two parties who can work together and furthermore want to work together.
benjy- any chance of a follow up book to Michael Kerr’s comedy classic about the last UUP election disaster ( at.. I think it was the last, there are so many)? As I recall you featured rather prominently in it, Ulster’s very own Peter Capaldi handling thicko politicians, managing scandals and smoking like Chernobyl.
Is your latest foray onto slugger a test drive for your book? Or is the impending smoking ban driving you even more desperate than the man who give Billy the Potato elocution lesson?
be gentle with Reg’s cat. It tells him his best policies you know. Miaow!
There i thought Darth you were an impartial political commentator. Seems you have an axe to grind ….
darth with an axe to grind against the UUP? Never!! lol
lads, lads, I love the UUP. it’s right up there with the Goons and Hancock as a British comedy institution. You misunderstand me completely, just as those people who have claimed I am a DUP supporter/member.
I am implacably opposed to the weak kneed dross that has been in the leadership of both the major Unionist parties, and sadly cannot bow the knee to Bob, though I have a high regard for several of his candidates- as indeed I do for certain UUP and DUP candidates- Steven Nicholl in S Antrim being an example of a hard working community activist- no coincidence that he has deep Orange connections.
BTW it says it all that a uup voter has to be anonymous.Something to ashamed of?
“BTW it says it all that a uup voter has to be anonymous.Something to ashamed of?”
I could say the same of you my friend!
You post insightful comments, sometimes hard hitting but always behind the cloak of a pseudonym, are you too ashamed to own your views?
That is a bit of a silly comment Darth. After all you either vote for a party or you do not. Would you rather people not vote at all? Think about it rationally …
SuperSoupy – “Have the SDLP really moved so far to the right and away from Nationalism that their voters see the UUP as a natural 2nd preference?”
I love your attempt to classiy all unionism as on the right, and all of nationalism as lovely progressive lefties. A complete mis-representation of Northern Irish political culture. Nationalism of all kinds is always at home on the right. Orange and green= two sides of the same coin.
…oh and congratulations to the Young unionists, who have created a record by getting all their members on television. And in fairness the UUP are streets ahead of the DUP as at today’s date on presentation- a big change from every previous election. Still we can expect the DUP to move up a gear, though whether we can be treated to thunder and lightning over Cunningplan House part 2 is debatable…..