In a sort of musical chairs, Jeffrey Donaldson resigns his seat on the Policing Board and gives it to Ian Paisley Junior… A rehabilitation of sorts then; despite the (perhaps inadvertent) glancing blow against another party Ministerial colleague…
Here’s a great review of a fascinating book (H/T reader Rory) on how the Internet is destroying our capacity for intelligent, focused and critical thought. It opens thus: …here is the news that Ulin brings in this slim, meandering book: that reading is “an act of contemplation”; that such an act becomes more difficult in [...] read our review »
Having somehow managed to avoid watching a single episode of the widely praised West Wing TV series I was delighted to discover the entire Box set in my Christmas stocking – and with enough spare time over the holidays to give it a good lash. But with 10 episodes of the first series under my [...] read our review »
Hmmm “3 jobs Paisley” replaced by “5 jobs Donaldson”. It seems the DUP got the message!
The question is – was the bauble agreed before the implicit questioning of the Environment Minister’s judgement?
Has this family no shame? I am reliably informed that this appointment was made exclusively by his father and without any others being informed in case they would block it. This will end in tears.
And we see the DUP attitude to protecting ethics in public life…
that will be handy.
He can hold the police accouintable for an investigation into all the Stormont sleaze
Cynic, he might even speed up the sale of the police station in Bushmills so that the developers can expand their portfolios.
Jobs for the boy(s)
Utterly sickening.
The DUP and the Paisleys in particular don’t seem to have any shame and seem to show a total lack of standards. In my opinion Junior is not fit to hold public office, no public office, none at all, but where does he end up but on the Policing Board of all places.
Nepotism.
I wish some could explain to me why people vote for this nonsense, stupidity, naivety, what?
What would it take to stop voter loyalty?
If people think that voting for this type of person is going to save the Union they are misguided. As far as I can see they would as soon sell you out for a bag of silver.
‘The DUP and the Paisleys in particular don’t seem to have any shame and seem to show a total lack of standards. In my opinion Junior is not fit to hold public office, no public office, none at all, but where does he end up but on the Policing Board of all places.’
Probably so as he can keep an ‘eye’ on the SF Minister for Justice
As for the DUP finding jobs for family members straight from the public trough has anybody considered what the alternative might be for many of these ‘family’ members ?
‘As far as I can see they would as soon sell you out for a bag of silver. ‘
Scottish politicians ‘sold’ out in 1707 . Irish politicians did the same in 1800 . Why should NI Unionist politicians be any different ?
I’m reminded of the old German joke between the Prussian and Austrians arguing about the relative ‘honour’ of each of their militaries .
Prussian : ‘ You Austrians have no honour -you only fight for money . We Prussians fight for our honour and nothing else ‘
Austrian : ‘Indeed you are correct Kamerad -each of us fights for what we lack the most ‘
The DUP are not fighting for ‘honour’ any more assuming they ever did ! So I guess that leaves them fighting for the ‘filthy ‘ lucre ? Men of principle chasing principal what else ? Nothing new there !
Juniors political career will end at exactly the same time Seniors does. If Senior truly didn’t consult with his party on this matter, Junior needs to start polishing his CV. A tattered legacy indeed.
I think this was a mistake in one hand you get punished and in the other you get rewarded, shows double standards who ever is making the desisions on this one has made a blunder!
I think this is indicitive if the DUP’s stratedgy in countering Sinn Féin attempts to devolve policing and justice to the Assembbly.
Send in Ian Óg the master of disaster to take Jeffery’s place and he’ll wreck the policing board, therefore scuppering any chance of devolving Policing and Justice.
Waych this space.
“Send in Ian Óg the master of disaster to take Jeffery’s place and he’ll wreck the policing board”
Has Junior been engaging in some sort of quick rehab stunt this week-end? We had a report of ambulance call out times being ‘adjusted’ a few days ago so Junior has just spent some time in the company of ambulance personnel – and by some quirk of fate Good Morning Ulster found out about it and interviewed the intrepid ambulance ‘chaser’.
He also highlighted weaknesses on the Policing Board. He alleged the SF members have been giving the UUP members the run around and that will now come to an end, or words to that effect. Does this mean the former DUP board member and new junior minister, Jeffrey Donaldson, wasn’t/isn’t fit for the job(s)?
I suspect that the comment was meant as an attack on his colleagues suitably couched as an attack on UUP. Given that his appointment came from his da and not the party it would suggest a last attempt by Paisley to exert some control.
“and by some quirk of fate Good Morning Ulster found out about it and interviewed the intrepid ambulance ‘chaser’”.
Has Ian Óg learned nothing.
Its a dangerous game leaking stuff to the press because once you have created media interest in yourself, its like a marraige for better or worse til the death of your career then you part. Usually rather sadly embarrassed with your tail between your cheeks.
“and by some quirk of fate Good Morning Ulster found out about it and interviewed the intrepid ambulance ‘chaser’”.
I wonder what stunts we can expect next? Will we see him scrubbed and gowned assisting in a hospital theatre a la Princess Diana?
“TELE’S STINT WITH PAISLEY LIFESAVERS”
There’s a nice photo of Junior ‘on the front line’ in the Belfast Telegraph – echoes of Prince Harry in Afghanistan. He appears to be attached to a portable defibrillator.
He looks remarkably fresh and dapper with not a drop of blood in sight so the photo must have been taken at the beginning of the all-night session.
He draws attention to the shortage of funds and resources. Now if only Peter Robinson (and the UK treasury) had been a bit more generous ..
Unsurprisingly, the photo-op doesn’t carry the David Gordon byeline.