The DUP’s Gregory Campbell, MP, MLA, interviewed on BBC NI’s Hearts and Minds on how yesterday’s non-deal with the government will affect future discussions. The title quote comes in response to Noel Thompson’s question on the devolution of policing and justice powers, “you’ll say ‘Well, hold on Gordon, you owe us one..’”
Fair play to Iain, he managed to get over 2,200 people voting in his poll for the top Northern Irish blogs this year… We (just, I imagine) retained our top spot, with Splintered coming straight in at number 2, no doubt his pet subject du jour will have garnered him a lot of fans… I’ve [...] read our review »
It’s not published until 3rd March, but one book I recommend you place an advance order for from Slugger’s Bookstore is James Harkin’s Niche. Belfast émigré Harkin examines a number of stories from business, culture and politics and comes to a single insight: everywhere the broad middle is collapsing. He offers Woolworths as an iconic exemplar [...] read our review »
It’s not often we get free things to give away to our readers, but courtesy of Palgrave Macmillan we have a nice paperback copy of Brian M Walker’s excellent history of partition of the island and how identities shifted in both the north east and the south and west: as most of the territory that [...] read our review »
Shirley Williams showed herself up as a senile old crone last night. Clueless as to the distinction between DUP and UUP, clueless as to which way Unionist parties might naturally lean on the 42-day issue (did she really say at one point they had an anti-internment policy?). She’s clearly been rotting away in the House of Lords for far too long.
Best panellist of the night for me was the Sun’s political correspondent, though quite why that comic requires one is beyond me.
“Bearing in mind historical miscarriages of justice,I dread to think of what could happen in the future,bearing in mind that most of these were during 7 days.How would any of us react in such circumstances.Even if you are released without charge after 42 days of detention and intensive interrogation,it would be very hard to get back to normal,and,despite your innocence being preserved the no smoke without fire attitudes will be very hard to overcome.I have no problems with parties doing deals on most things,in fact good luck to them,it is good politics,but some things should not be for sale-the right to being innocent until proven guilty,the right to a fair trial(which this bill de facto abolishes given that parliament will have to vote which will put this all in the public domain)without prejudice.You could be next ”
Danny while most level-headed people will agree with this i think that you underestimate the level of shear ignorance out there regarding the ramifications of such a bill. That said i would strongly prefer if you and others just left the British to enact what they like and use whatever influence and power you can muster to focus on extricate ourselves from the Union and focus on re-unification.
As a Unionist I am not too worried about Shirleys views as I have heard her criticise Tories and New Labour more vehemently.
Any way she is a great old timer from the days when Labour had a social conscience. Long may she continue to give us her views.
>>Shirley Williams showed herself up as a senile old crone last night. Clueless as to the distinction between DUP and UUP, clueless as to which way Unionist parties might naturally lean on the 42-day issue (did she really say at one point they had an anti-internment policy?). She’s clearly been rotting away in the House of Lords for far too long.<<
Totally disagree. Williams is merely reflecting a general ignorance England wide of the north of Ireland. They are just not interested.
Further to this point. I truly believe that the DUP have scored an own goal for the long term future of Ulster unionism. At a time when the English are realising that half of the lies told to them about subsidising Scotland are just not true. And yet our people seem to be benefitting from not being governed by Westminster on certain matters. Was it wise to have the beached whale that is Norn Ireland, sucking up British money, so prominently displayed? Remember the backlash in Scotland about being governed by an unrepresentative Tory government? Well imagine the chagrin of the English at having some backward bigoted paddies interfere with their democracy.
The words of Lady Macbeth come to mind. The perspective of your average English voter is important here.
‘Undertakers of Parliament’…..great.
Observer, “you sure got a purty mouth…..!”
“Undertakers of Parliament’”
The slogan of a local election candidate here some years ago ended, “The Last Man To Let You Down”. He was an undertaker
Its a dying trade Nevin.
“Obs and DC,
That will be a Yellow Card to both of you. Keep it up, and I’ll happily make it a RED!”
Mick, you know referees can be wankers too, so why act like one?
My own mitigating circumstances are your own peculiar and biased comments about the DUP and its specious victories, over that of rationality.
But, you are a journo, you gotta mix it up, don’t punish just sit back and appreciate diversity of opinion, apologies if it ended up going low; however, if you want to red card, red card me and yourself for a couple of days so we can both get some sleep and clarity. I believe, you are up to your tricks and are pumping out nonsense to suit your interests i.e. financial.
Oh, and just before you block my IP, the last time I was red carded (and banned) was whenever I ribbed Chris Donnelly, so just to clarify, I only rise when the smell of shite is in the air.