TUV to sit by-election out
The Irish News reports TUV sources saying they will not stand in the Enniskillen by-election so on the Unionist side it looks like a straight fight between the DUP and newly Conservative linked UUP.
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Right! I’ll call the Dimbleby’s and Channel 4 News. Can someone else get across Sky and The Wires? Oh, God, look at the time. Can we get someone into a studio for the American Breakfast News slots?
Will wait and hear this officially from TUV headquarters before being sure
however no matter if the TUV stand or not the DUP are going to be up against it.
TUV will continue the pressure on the DUP while the election takes place, so Foster will far from have an easy run.
I think the UUP will nick this seat as the amount of ammunition both the TUV and UUP have to use against Foster and the DUP should be enough to see them fail and the UUP win
No, what will happen is the shinners will take it with the unionist vote split three ways in what already is a majority nationalist ward.
Wake up and smell the coffee
If the unionist people are smart (sigh) then they will vote 1,2,3 for the unionst parties, with obviously the 2st choice first but also meaning if their candidate doesnt win then their vote will go to another unionist candidate and thus making sure everything possible is done to secure a unionist win
that should of course have been 1st choice first!! lol
Surely nationalists will also transfer – and with the numbers must be favourites?
dewi
I would say your correct, however a slight dip in nationalists voting and hopefully a good turnout of unionists could see unionism keep the seat
this is still a huge test for the DUP again though. and if the UUP finish ahead of them (even if nationalists win the seat)then it will be showing a continuing pattern of people turing away from the DUP
Today’s NL says diffent as did the BT yesterday.
If this is true, is the TUV doing what traditional unionists used to do – sit on the sidelines?
This is all speculative at the moment until of course we hear from the TUV – right?
but…
If the TUV fail to find a candidate (as actually ‘choosing’ not to stand seems a cop out given the nature of the TUV) this will be played as a wider issue of not being able to sustain an offensive on a province wide basis… damaging long term for the TUV cause surely??
The TUV aren’t standing because they know they don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the council seat. At least they have the common sense to realise that. The only winner if the TUV stands would be the Sinners, as the unionist vote would be split.
If the TUV really do love their Ulster, as they claim to, they’d do the PUL community a favour and disband, ending their fruitless campaign of sniping from the sidelines…
Half Pint,
just read that there now actually
quite possible that they may run yet. Allister has been very quite on the issue, he is keeping his cards close to his chest I think.
Quite interesting the read the same old nonsense from the DUP claiming that if unionists dont vote for them then SF/IRA will get the seat. usual scaremongering from them.
the unionist people must get out and vote yes, but as long as they vote for unionist parties then that is their job done. they dont need to be told nonsense about having to vote for the DUP or else SF/IRA will get the seat!
CL – “The TUV aren’t standing because they know they don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the council seat.”
The TUV knew they hadn’t chance ‘of winning’ at Dromore either but still fielded a candidate – i can’t see why they wouldn’t field a candidate for this by-election? (risk of Unionism losing the seat aside)
They simply have to field a candidate – otherwise their position will be damaged.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: this is an STV election, so there is no purpose in ‘sitting it out’. If the TUV are not standing, it is because they either know they have puny support in Enniskillen, or they can’t get a credible candidate. Trying to dress it up in fine ‘tribal solidarity’ clothes is hogwash – they are afraid to stand because they would be a joke after the result is announced. End of story.
“End of story.”
Agreed. A de facto protest party not protesting is also damaging – damned if they do stand and damned if they don’t.
Lets hope there is a large nationalist / pink turn out and hypocritical Foster is kept out.
“If the TUV are not standing, it is because they either know they have puny support in Enniskillen”……………………………….
Typically, the UUP are the prevalent Unionist party in Fermanagh so it doesn’t seem there is a “hardline” vote out there for the TUV. In Enniskillen, however, the DUP are the leading unionist party, but I believe that is more to do with the popularity of Arlene Foster and the fact that she is a well-known and recognised politician who is regularly on the box.
There is one thing I don’t understand however. I had a look at the Fermanagh District Council Elections from 193-2005. http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgfermanagh.htm
It shows that Arlene Foster was elected with more than double her nearest rival’s vote in the 2005 Enniskillen Council Elections. Why then is she standing again to try and defend Joe Dodds’ seat? Did she vacate her council seat when she became a member of the Executive as the Environment Mininster in 2007?
Concerned loyalist,
Foster resigned her seat you are correct, which makes her standing in this by-election even more astounding. If she stood down because of her new jobs then surely she needs to give up one of these new jobs to be fully committed to the council position she is running for?
If she doesnt then she is clearly avery confused woman
ultimately more so if they don’t Peat
Lets hope there is a large nationalist / pink turn out and hypocritical Foster is kept out.
Posted by Dr Strangelove on Jul 24, 2008 @ 12:18 PM…………………………………………
Is the “pink” turnout referring to the female vote? I haven’t come across the term before. Also, in what way is Arlene Foster a hypocrite?
“TUV to sit by-election out”
Rather like Thomas Hogg then
We are talking about a seat on Fermanagh District Council here. Ergo no big deal if ‘the seat is lost to unionism’ possibly on a temporary basis. Given that the TUV’s short term aim is to assail the DUP I would have thought that they’d stand. If Foster loses it will be a major embarrassment to the DUP and give momentum to its enemies within unionism.
Not standing shows weakness on the part of the TUV. It also shows, unsurprisingly, that sectarianism is their prime concern.
CL no it’s the ‘Gay’ vote. You know, the people who will burn in hell for all eternity ?
I note you ran away from our last debate, i just hope it was because you read up on a few things and are now a little more enlightened.
Unionism = Ireland’s Shame
Traditional Unionist
“Foster resigned her seat you are correct, which makes her standing in this by-election even more astounding. If she stood down because of her new jobs then surely she needs to give up one of these new jobs to be fully committed to the council position she is running for?”
To be fair to Foster, she resigned because as Environment Minister, with responsibility for the review of local government structures, it would have been a conflict of interests for her to be sitting on a council. She’s now moved to become Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
On the other hand, she stated clearly her policy position that under the new council arrangements, ‘dual mandates’ would be phased out.
And it’s quite frankly pathetic that someone who is an MLA, and a Minister in the Executive, and let’s not forget someone who will probably run for Parliament at the next general election, is standing for a tinpot local council.
Paul i am taking beginning to take offense at you equating unionism to Ireland’s shame. Define both and tell me what you mean for as a unionist I feel this is a slander on those amongst us who view that they are unionists.
“To be fair to Foster, she resigned because as Environment Minister, with responsibility for the review of local government structures, it would have been a conflict of interests for her to be sitting on a council.”
Mike,
I wonder why our new Env. Minister hasn’t yet taken the principled stand and resigned from BCC?
“I wonder why our new Env. Minister hasn’t yet taken the principled stand and resigned from BCC? ”
because he wants to ban elections first
Conquistador,
quite correct, I honestly believe if the DUP thought they could get away with it they would form a dictatorship.
They are that type of party who think they know best, and do not listen to anyone. and if you ban elections theres no real need to listen I suppose…
CL no it’s the ‘Gay’ vote. You know, the people who will burn in hell for all eternity ?
I note you ran away from our last debate, i just hope it was because you read up on a few things and are now a little more enlightened.
Unionism = Ireland’s Shame
Posted by Paul on Jul 24, 2008 @ 12:46 PM…………………………………………
Our last debate? I’ve got a busy life, forgive me if I can’t recall it.
Irish Republicanism = Murdering sectarian psychopaths
or MSPs for short
picador ,
‘Not standing shows weakness on the part of the TUV.’
Well maybe- but it also shows that Fermanagh is probably not the best constituency for the Repartition Party (TUV) to make a stand.
‘It also shows, unsurprisingly, that sectarianism is their prime concern.’
And in a constituency that’s over 50% RC/Irish Nationalist they’ll not be getting any of those votes either . Overall a lose lose for the TUV.
Nothing wrong with that outcome IMO
Well maybe- but it also shows that Fermanagh is probably not the best constituency for the Repartition Party (TUV) to make a stand.
Change your name to OrangeFlag and go for the nomination!
If Arlene Foster loses it will be a very bad outcome for the DUP. Which is why it was a mistake to put her forward.
Likewise a DUP loss can only provide a timely boost to Allister’s lot. Perhaps they are adopting a more subtle strategy – not wanting to be held responsible for the loss of a unionist seat but at the same time secretly praying for it.
BTW, I see your mate Dr. Karadzic is on his way to the Hague.
The TUV’s main goal is limiting Sinn Fein/IRA involvement in local Government. To enter the Fermanagh by-election would be going against that strategy.