Another statement, along with Turgon’s noting of Owen Paterson’s comments, to throw into the apparent confusion around the UUP/Conservatives “electoral pact”. On Stormont Live today Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey was asked “where stands things with the Ulster Unionists and Conservatives today?” [Was that a 'nose tell'? - Ed] Or just an itchy nose..
Great little review of Listening to Van Morrison by Griel Marcus… It’s a short book, not a biography or a career survey, but an attempt to follow those moments in Morrison’s music, as he’s made it from his first records with Them, from Belfast in 1965 to the present day, when something happens that breaks [...] read our review »
This is article was first published in Fortnight magazine back in February 2003. Chris Farrington is now a Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences’ in the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin. Although the circumstances it describes has changed radically and [...] read our review »
“We flagged it up in July”. It’s not going to be ready for the December conference. It’s “on-going”. etc. etc.
Or, as the original script had it:
Sorry, all. I have to get my kicks somehow.
Strewth! You wouldn’t credit it! The “submit the word you see below” is … union!
Behave mun Malcolm.
I dont think an agreement will be reached between the UUP and Conservatives I understand they would loose their only MP if they do.
There we go:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218
Full marks to truth and justice @ 10:41 PM for making the first sane comment here. I must admit that one went past me until now.
Perhaps he really means that Sylvia would walk away. She votes less than a third of the divisions, but she certainly doesn’t follow any Tory line. Alliance wouldn’t stand down again. Either way — whoops! there’s the seat lost.
Reg has the look of a man who is enjoying having one over the media and who looks confident that he can deliver by the end of the year.
Once he has the Conservative deal in the bag he should really get radical and get well away from this Executive before it collapses.
Elvis, good point. Through the whole charade of this pitiful executive, I think Sir Reg is the only one that’s been prepared to put his head above the parapet at all. I’d like to have seen it go further over the parapet, but that’s politics.
Sure there’s plenty of detractors here, and I am no fan of his party. But I have had the chance to see him speak on three separate occasions over the past two months through work circumstances, and people generally tend to be impressed by what they hear.
I was at a Chamber of Commerce thing up on the North Coast a few weeks ago, and he took questions from the floor for over an hour, and spoke more sense on the local economy than I have heard from almost all the rest of the Executive put together. He was addressing live issues that (in that instance) local business people wanted to hear about. And he addressed them well.
I think you’re absolutely right, Elvis. It’s bull-by-the-horns time.
Might I also note (if readers will indulge an off-topic rant) that the so-called Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment has been noticeable by her absence for the past six months from the North – oh sorry, I mean, she hasn’t set foot near the Coleraine/Limavady/Ballymoney areas where over 2500 jobs have been lost over the past 18 months.
Nothing like being at the coalface, is there Arlene? Perhaps being a Councillor in Fermanagh takes up all your time. Or maybe San Francisco is more appealing at this time of year?
Sorry. Rant over. O/T shoutey bit over too.
Malcolm Redfellow and others may make disparaging remarks about the ongoing discussions between the UUP and the Conservative Party but in reality they know nothing about what is actually happening on this subject.
As a UUP member, I can tell Redfellow and others that the true Democratic Unionist Party is the UUP. Our new procedures following a complete overhaul of our rules means that as Sir Reg said on the Politics show, we have to adhere to certain rules and the Party Executive will make the decision on this matter, when the Committee appointed some time ago to deal with it deliver their report. When that happens, I have no doubt that the UUP will have an arrangement with the Conservative Party and we will be part of a true Unionist Party covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We in the UUP wish to maintain the Union in totality not just the Union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
The link up between the UUP and the Conservative Party has really got under the skin of the DUPes and will be a certain vote winner for the true Unionist party in Northern Ireland.
“As a UUP member, I can tell Redfellow and others that the true Democratic Unionist Party is the UUP.”
Y’see? You had to go and ruin it.
Never mind all this political guff! Why has nobody posted a thread on the £200,000 luxury apartments on the Upper Ormeau Road about to be handed over to the Housing Executive to be distributed as social housing. Now that is one story that has REALLY pissed me off today. As someone who gets up for work every morning and pays through the nose for everything, like many of you, to be told that the ‘world owes me a living’ brigade are to get luxury housing on top of multi state benefits is very hard to swallow. NI/The Six Counties is awash with these scroungers who TAKE TAKE TAKE and contribute absolutely F**K ALL to society. I am well annoyed tonight. The lunatics have finally taken over the asylum.
I think if anyone listens to what Reg said in detail, what he appeared to indicate was – the working party have agreed a deal with the Tories and it is being put to the party for ratification or rejection before the 6th December.
Maybe others have a different reading.
I hope mine is correct and it is ratified and evolves into a full merger in time, it would be the best indicator of a normalisation of politics and the beginning of the end for the extremes.
I wonder is a merger such a good idea. The tories have never polled well here, they might actually drag the uup down even further.
Lurig
I never took you for an economic liberal. I hope your walking the walk though and are not employed in the public sector which is pretty much just social security for the more educated.
William
“We in the UUP wish to maintain the Union in totality not just the Union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”
A reminder to you of the first and second objectives of the UUP:
“(a) Promote, strengthen and maintain the Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Crown, and uphold all democratic institutions in Northern Ireland.
(b) Safeguard the British Citizenship of the people of Northern Ireland where the rights of all individuals as equal citizens within the Union are fully recognised.”
http://www.uup.org/policy/the-objectives-of-the-party-shall-be-to-.php
“I dont think an agreement will be reached between the UUP and Conservatives I understand they would loose their only MP if they do.”
Lady Sylvia will not be asked to take the Conservative whip during this parliament.
The Raven
“Or maybe San Francisco is more appealing at this time of year?”
So the DETI minister shouldn’t be out looking for FDI to replace those jobs lost?
Lady Sylvia will not be asked to take the Conservative whip during this parliament.
Posted by Chekov on Nov 12, 2008 @ 10:31 AM
Sounds like a Kop out to me, not a good sign for a mearger?
tell me its not the ormeau bakery or curzon apartments?
At this moment in time? Have a look at the amount spent on “attracting” FDI this year. Then ask if that might have been better placed helping local businesses develop to compete in export markets.
Personally? I’d rather see ten 40/50-employee Northern Ireland companies here than one Seagate, or its equivalent ever again.
You’ll forgive me if I respond in the negative.