Gregory Campbell calls for new council name
Gregory Campbell has called for the proposed new council created by the merger of Derry City Council and Strabane Council to have a name which would make it acceptable to unionists and nationalists.
His comments (from the BBC):
“We are going to enter into a new era in 18 months time with 11 new councils with new names.
“This is an opportunity if we want to draw a line under the difficulties.”
“We want to avoid an unwieldy name but we also want to have a name that will avoid the problems that occurred in the 1980s when the council’s name changed.
“Something like the North West Regional Council would at least encompass the entirety of the council area”
As regards Gregory’s alternative, how unimaginative, it reminds me of the local council area in Scotland based around the historic city of Sirling and encompassing Bannockburn and the beautiful Forth Valley.
What name did the proto-Stalinists give this area?
“Central”.
Yes that’s right, it’s called Central Region.
Fuck me.
“The current council name reflects the way the overwhelming majority in Derry want it – if Campbell doesn’t like it, he can always move”
Ironically enough Billy – spoken like a true loyalist….
Harry Flashman,
… I’m not sure that Strabane is on the Foyle is it?
Strabane is on the Mourne, but just downstream the Mourne joins the Finn and seems to become the Foyle from then on. The bridge between Strabane and Lifford is called the Foyle Bridge. So Strabane is barely a few metres from the Foyle (and the Foyle forms the northern border of Strabane District).
Foyle and Mourne Council could work.
Brian W, were you serious about Derry and Strabane?
How about Campbellgrad?
Brian W, were you serious about Derry and Strabane?
Strabane should be in the name, but like this:
West And North Council Excluding Regional Strabane
Democratic
“Ironically enough Billy – spoken like a true loyalist….
As a constitutional Nationalist, I have always maintained that, as long as the majority of people in the North want to remain part of the UK, then so be it.
The same rules apply to Derry Council.
However, the difference is that I don’t ever support anyone being deprived of anything purely because of their religion and/or political views.
For decades in Derry, Unionists gerrymandered the council to deprive Nationalists\Catholics of votes, jobs, houses etc. I don’t recall many Unionists, least of all the DUP, being concerned about anyone’s sensitivities particularly the Nationalist majority.
Now, because the DUP are no longer able to do Nationalists down, lo and behold they are suddenly concerned with “fairness and sensivity.”
Hypocrisy at it’s finest.
Likewise, at local council level. Personally I don’t favour some of the steps that SF are taking re the removal of British symbols.
However, there are many Unionist controlled conuncils in NI where, not only are Unionists not interested in a “neutral” environment but they go out of their way to be provocative to Nationalists on occasions.
Even in Derry, there have been some moves at compromise by Nationalists, namimg the walled part of the City as Londonderry etc.
However, even that isn’t enough for Unionists.
For Campbell or the DUP to try and paint themselves as trying to be even-handed and crying foul about offended “Unionist sensitivities” is grossly hypocritical and, frankly, laughable.
They are always in favour of majority rule (gerrymandered or otherwise) when it favours Unionists. However, it’s a totally different tune when it favours Nationalists.
Are you truly surprised that the people in the UK/Westminster have long since seen through the DUP for the hypocrites they are.
Is it any wonder that they are viewed scornfully outside the North? I think not.
Billy
The DUP were not responsible for any gerrymandering in Londonderry.
A Recollecting Nourish Town
RepublicanStones
So you believe it would have been acceptable for the whole of Ireland to be free of British rule – neglecting the fact that Unionists did not want to be part of a Republic. At least be consistent in your views. Partition was the fairest option.
“Foyle and Mourne Council could work”
The problem with Mourne is that it’s better known as the name of the the mountain range, which is not in this area obviously.
“I hate names like North West Regional Council – they’ve done the same sort of thing with the glorious old names of Glasgow constituencies. Why not have a consultation and ask for suggestions?”
Actually if you check their website they currently are having a consultation – members of the public have until 12 November to submit written representations and that will be followed by local enquiries in relevant areas. In short quit moaning on Slugger about it and make your views known!
“So you believe it would have been acceptable for the whole of Ireland to be free of British rule – neglecting the fact that Unionists did not want to be part of a Republic. At least be consistent in your views. Partition was the fairest option. ”
Riverlagen the majority of Irish people never wanted to be invaded and then subdugated by the brits. Im going to rehash your statement that you aimed at RS.
“So you believe it would have been acceptable for the whole of Ireland to UNDER British rule – neglecting the fact that 80%+ did not want to be part of a Union. ”
Riverlagen Partition by the way it was carried out was a very unfair option especially for the Irish speaking areas of Tyrone or the majority nationalist towns/cities/areas of Derry/Newry/South Armagh etc.etc where the majority of people were forcably steamrolled(BY the guns of TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS such as the RIC, UVF etc…etc.;..) into a foreign state they wanted nothing to do with. Repartition in the 1920s may have brought about a lasting peace but the all or nothing approach of unionism really forced nationalism into a corner and British soldiers murdering unamrmed protesters in cold blood(some of whom were running away) didnt help things.
‘So you believe it would have been acceptable for the whole of Ireland to be free of British rule’
Yes.
Nevermind the manner in which British rule was extended over Ireland.
‘..neglecting the fact that Unionists did not want to be part of a Republic.’
Ahh but you see, the irish never wanted to be part of your beloved union. Nevermind certain historical facts which lead to a ‘loyal’ minority in the north east of the country. But it seems you think every different politcal stance no matter how small the grouping may be, should be able to dictate to the vast majority. Ireland was viewed as one entity, there was no ‘Northern Ireland’ pre-partition or are you unaware of this?
“I hate names like North West Regional Council – they’ve done the same sort of thing with the glorious old names of Glasgow constituencies. Why not have a consultation and ask for suggestions?”
Does anyone except maybe some of those in “East Londonderry” complain about the names of our westminster constituencies?
Didn’t the UUP propose a 15 council model? Was that to be the 4 Belfast westminster constituenices + the 14 others? Anyone know what was wrong with that?
And if we needed less could we not have just joined a few pairs of westminster constiuencies, perhaps in the more populous eastern counties to keep the areas down.
How’s about;
1.Belfast (4)
2.North Down & Strangford (2)
3.South Down & Lagan Valley (2)
4.Newry, Armagh & Upper Bann (2)
5.South & East Antrim (2)
6.Foyle (1)
7.Mid-Ulster (1)
8.Fermanagh & South Tyrone (1)
9.East Londonderry (1)
10.North Antrim (1)
11.West Tyrone (1)
Can anyone tell me why we didn’t just do that? From a North Down perspective it makes more sense than a North Down and Ards deal that sees Dundonald being run from Lisburn.
Map so you can see the westminster areas.
http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/