Downing Street visit “routine”..
Whilst the Northern Ireland Executive grinds to a halt the DUP and Sinn Féin have been visiting Gordon Brown in Downing St. Separately, of course. [I'm sure he appreciates the timing - Ed]. NI First Minister Peter Robinson, and Culture Minister Gregory Campbell, dropped in yesterday. Today it was the turn of deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams, MP, MLA.
The DUP has played down talk of deadlock at Stormont, while Sinn Féin described its Downing Street visit as “routine”.
we weren’t at the meeting so how can we comment?
Comrade,
there is a good paralell with decomissioning – in fact made by myself in reply to another of Pete’s posts on this subject. The political pressure is NOW on the DUP as it WAS on SF to deliver – failure to deliver is creating instability just as it did then and may ultimately lead to collapse – which wont happen if Robbo acts after having a kick up the political Jacksie ( threats etc ) from El Gordo.
There is an element of truth in what Pete says ( repeatedly) on this subject but he mentions this at the expense of the greater truth which is that the DUP have a veto which is not in their own interest to exercise for much longer – more Rome rule etc.
A tenner bet – loser gives to Slugger – I say Robbo throws in the towel (agrees to transfer )before January and a fiver bet says he does so before September. Both bets open to first comer.
I’m not one for reading election manifestos as I hold such a low opinion of politicians, but presumably the north’s political parties stood before the electorate with a platform of policies that they claimed, if given the power they would legislate on and thus according to them make peoples lives better.
it would be interesting to know what percentage of say the DUP and SF manifestos has passed into law and whether people believe their lives have improved due to this.
Clearly two of SF main election planks have not yet passed into law, policing and the ending of selective education. Perhaps slugger should set up a thread on this so we can get an idea who the winners and losers are politically.
Or are Stormont politicos as many feel, all on perpetual standby, waiting for the British and Irish governments to continuously dig them out of the hole which is of their own making.
Mick Hall,
remember the troubles ? Well this is a PEACE process as well as a political process to ensure we dont have a repeat of this. The last part of the PEACE process which is agreed between violent nationlism and the Englezes is not yet in place – namely the transfer of Police and Justice to Irish hands.
For “dig them out of the hole which is of their own making” see ensuring the Englezes deliver unionism in order to cement the peace process – that is what the GFA/STA was all about – suggesting this problem is an ‘indigenous’ or relates solely to the SF ad the DUP either misses this point or is being disingenuous. Unioninism has had to be brought kicking and screaming to get them thus far – one more push from El Gordo should do the trick.
there is a good paralell with decomissioning – in fact made by myself in reply to another of Pete’s posts on this subject. The political pressure is NOW on the DUP as it WAS on SF to deliver
Whatever makes you think that ?
– failure to deliver is creating instability just as it did then and may ultimately lead to collapse – which wont happen if Robbo acts after having a kick up the political Jacksie ( threats etc ) from El Gordo.
What exactly can Gordon (who is likely to be reliant on DUP votes to get troublesome legislation through in the Commons between now and the next General Election) do to apply pressure to the DUP ?
The Executive will not collapse. It will be reconstituted without Sinn Fein in it. I see no reason why power sharing should be denied when everyone supports it except for one party ?!
Do the republicans really want to send out the message that the IRA’s disarmament and move to stand down was a complete waste of time ?
Comrade,
Whatever makes you think that ?
Firstly, they are out of step with all the main players Engleze & Irish Govt and SF.
Secondly, because of the fact they are out of step most blame will be attributed to them for any collapse.
Thirdly the British government has been implicitly threatening them with greater papal influence from the South – listen to Robbo’s speech when he became First Minister. There will no attempt by the British to re-constitute Stormont without police and Justice this has to do with the PEACE process – which is an agreement between the Provos and British.
Fourthly, plunging Non Iron into constutional crisis will not suit those who like to pretned that it a normal part of the UK.
My bet is that Robbo will jump before September and certainly before January – that will be the proof of the pressure he is under as having SF running Police and Justice will be very politicaly dangerous for the DUP. Whats your bet of wheh he’ll do it?
Sammy,
I’ll make one final attempt to get you to snap out of this weird delusion you’re occupying.
Firstly, they are out of step with all the main players Engleze & Irish Govt and SF.
How on earth do you imagine this ? Why do you think Gerry Adams ran to Downing Street, and not Dublin ? Because Dublin told him to fuck off and stop whining. Do you really think that if SF decide to pull out, the British, Irish Americans, and everyone else will blame the DUP ? Robinson will shrug his shoulders and say “I tried to make it work” and SF will be shown as a party unwilling to work with realpolitik.
Secondly, because of the fact they are out of step most blame will be attributed to them for any collapse.
As long as Gordon Brown has a marginal majority in the Commons, the DUP point of view will be the one which takes precedence at Number 10.
Sinn Fein have no trump cards left. They cannot force the hand of the British, the Irish, or anyone else.
Thirdly the British government has been implicitly threatening them with greater papal influence from the South – listen to Robbo’s speech when he became First Minister.
That won’t happen, because the executive will remain in existence and the structures will continue to work. Just without Sinn Fein there to annoy everyone. Sure, they might turn up and hand-deliver a letter at Stormont, but everyone will just point and laugh. I’m looking forward to it.
In any case, I don’t think this scares the unionists as much as it used to. There’s been a lot of good work done over the last five years to improve the relationship between the unionists and the Irish government. You even had Turgon on here saying that a form of joint authority would be preferable to government with SF.
There will no attempt by the British to re-constitute Stormont
Stormont’s gone for good, everyone knows that. However an executive comprising the unionists, Alliance and SDLP is entirely reasonable, just as it was in 1974, 1982 and 1992. There’s nothing to say that SF must be in government. In fact it is becoming increasingly clear that everyone would be a lot better off without them.
without police and Justice this has to do with the PEACE process
I frankly don’t see why you’re so hung up about it. Everyone agrees that it needs to happen, so why don’t we just shut up and get on with it ? I can’t think of a precedent in Northern Ireland politics where an arbitrary deadline ever achieved anything.
– which is an agreement between the Provos and British.
What agreement is that ?