Margaret Ritchie elected as new SDLP leader
It’s just been announced that Margaret Ritchie has been elected the new SDLP leader at the party’s annual conference in Newcastle, County Down.
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Books
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“Good Friday. The death of Irish Republicanism” by Anthony McIntyre: a review
This was a book that I first reviewed at the same time as “Unionism Decayed” back in 2008. Like Vance’s work, it is the author’s portrayal of a defeated political movement or ideal and as a Unionist it was instructional to read an interpretation of the immediate post-Agreement period from the other side of the fence. [...] read our review » -
Kevin Myers’ ‘Watching the Door’: Book Review
This reads as if a mad picaresque tale. Myers as first a reporter for RTÉ and then as a freelance journalist with no real experience, finds himself wandering into savagery as he hastens north as the Troubles explode. A soldier dies next to him; he witnesses an IRA ambush; he sees children shot to death [...] read our review »
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Christopher Hitchens, 1949 – 2011
Writer Christopher Hitchens has died aged 62. He was as contrary as he was brilliant. Here is a brief In Memoriam from Vanity Fair (his outlet of choice since 1992) and, here, a longer tribute from his friend Christopher Buckley Stanley in The New Yorker. Better, perhaps, though to post one of Hitchens’ own writings in [...] read our review »
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You never know how good someone will be in a particular position until he or she is seen in action. Many journalists thought that Michael Foot would be a wonderful leader of the British Labour Party, and in the event most of them were disappointed. By contrast, when Arthur Balfour was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland he was mocked by one writer as a ‘beautiful butterfly’ who would be ‘broken on the wheel’, but it was in Ireland that Balfour lost the reputation of a political lightweight.
Margaret Ritchie, like Sammy Wilson, should not be discounted. You can learn a lot about politicians by talking to their officials. At times what you hear from civil servants about a particular minister belies the crude caricatures that you find in the media.
I was glad to learn today that Margaret Ritchie enjoys walking in the Mournes. That reduces the chances of Tollymore Forest being sold to some vulgar destroyer of the earth. (If she had professed to enjoy watching serial dramas on television, I should have groaned.) Give her time!
From my knowledge of FF members I can assure you that the option of linking with FF will be actively resisted by FF members here. Why would thhey be doing the heavy lifting to prepare a bed for disgruntled SDLPers? If a merger with the SDLP was wanted it would have happened by now. FF do not want or need it.
The ethos of the SDLP is not the ethos of a republican party.
The SDLP are dead but have not yet the wit to stiffen. What possible gain can FF get from attaching themselves to that debacle?
FF’s strategy is the correct one, no mad leaping without looking as the tories have done, they have linked to the unionists and look at the hassle that brought. They will continue to paddle their own canoe and not tie to the sinking ship.
Ritchie’s election will eventually split the SDLP. I cannot see how an ego like McDonnell can now thole being under Margarets thumb, he will go, but he needn’t think he is welcome in FF. This man accepted the deputy mayoral role and embarrassed nationalism. If the SDLP was a party of principle it would have ditched him there and then, but of course – even when it appeared strong – it had no internal coherence and discipline, it was and still is a party of feuds and factions.
He is in my view toxic and would destroy the expansion of FF throughout Ireland.
CC
Is this the same FF that is in its worst position ever electorally that we’re talking about?
Framer, I suppose we just have to wait until May to see.
Presumably no unionists will be voting for McDonnell.
And presumably no nationalists will vote for a UUP or DUP type.
The winner therefore will be the person who garners most votes from his own tribe, allowing for “split votes”.
McDonnell probably will take aound the same vote, Certainly some AP unionist types will not vote for him and certainly some of the more partisan SF types wont.
But I dont really expect voters will be deserting him.
jack …..you are absolutely right. I cant be FOR and AGAINST pacts.
Please feel free to read thru several other posts where I expressed my considered view that all parties have a DUTY to offer themselves in all constituencies.
Then please feel to go back to the post on which you commented and note the caveat that a nationalist pact should only be considered as a “reprisal against the naked sectarian nature of DUP/UUP”.
As the post suggests Pacts are NOT something I favour.
FF are making there way back up from a nadir John, whereas the SDLP are still tumbling down the pit they fell into years ago only thing is John, the pit is bottomless and there will be no thud or bounce.
CC
I think your view expresses a superiority complex about women, or an inferiority complex if you are a woman. For example, what happens if Sinn Fein lose Gerry Adams? What happened when the DUP lost Ian Paisley?
I will leave the amateur mumbo jumbo to others as I am not qualified either as a prophet or as a psychologist
Well, what a welter of negativity about the SDLP members’ decision. Al McD had a huge ego and was vastly overrated. An intellectual lightweight — and Margaret R is being called intellectually lightweight too ? Well, she had the balls to cut off funding to the UDA and face down the NI Civil Service head and perm sec lickspittles and tell them to bugger off and she was taking the decision because she was the minister, not them. She took the right moral decision and to hell it if was “illegal” later. There is a lot of the usual NornIron anti-women agenda here — and I’m male. Good luck to her. McD’s arrogance and lack of evidence that he would “change” anything (for goodness sake he had been deputy for years!) rightly did him in. No doubt the nasties of SF will try to damage M R. Let them try. There’s a basic decency and courage there which surpasses anything the Mopes possess. What a farago of anti-feminist anti-moderate nationalist crap is being posted. Good on ya, Margaret!
Sadly she did not cut off funding to the UDA. The Conflict Transformation Initiative continued through the court case and continues to this day. Her “decision” was a political stunt. Not one penny of funding was ever withheld.
Sorry to burst your bubble GFA.
I think both of these candidates have an important role to play in the future of the sdlp. Alisdair has obviously shown that he can bring better organisation to the party through his successful election campaign. He can bring that across the six counties and has highlighted that the party need to address the fact that in certain areas of NI, the SDLP are non existamt. In some ways, I think he wpuld have been a good short term leader to bring in those changes but he can still do that. I think this campaign will further raise his profile to help him retain south Belfast.
Margaret Ritchie is the most successful Executive Minister. At times I find her insufferable in the Alex Attwood. I like what she says but not the way she says it. However, the SDLP’s unique selling point is that they are good at being politicians and Ministers. So what if they seem a bit aloof, politicians should! But she delivers and is the best leader for that reason. Plus it will help the SDLP lose the image of being a bunch of grey old men
GFA SupporterBut Realist,
A lot of good points there. I DO wish her well. Nationalists NEED a viable alternative to Sinn Féin.
And although they would deny it SINN FÉIN need a strong SDLP.
From a nationalist perspective the value of he GFA is actually having two parties supporting the process rather than one for and one against.
Its all about balance.
Frankly I dont know Margaret Ritchie….she is so to speak the wrong generation for an old man like me.
But with the backing of Eddie McGrady she has climbed to the top in South Down and now in the North. She ouldnt have done that without a lot of political nous.
Yet my judgement remains she is lightweight.
And more importantly SEEN as lightweight.
(But its a good point that MCdonnell was seen as heavyweight and is fundamentally lightweight).
There was LESS to McDonnell than met the eye.
And probably MORE to Ritchie than meets the eye.
FJH – McDonnell expects and probably got Protestant votes last time.
Else why does most of his constituency work involve trailing round church halls having tea and biscuits with the more genteel voters.
CC
You must take the general point that it is not over for the SDLP if Gerry Adams leaves the scene in disgrace as has been threatening for ages now.
‘Mark Durkan in a skirt’ as someone remarked of Margaret, the other day.
There’s no more industrious a politician than Ritchie but holding down the demanding DSD role whilst waking up a sleeping pygmie seems a big ask.
If she resigns the miniserial portfolio, she loses her public profile and political clout.
However if she sits tight at the DSD, any talk of applying the political jump leads to the Stoop rustbucket is mere bluff and bluster.
Framer.you mention “Protestant” voters.
I spoke of “unionist voters”.
An easy mistake for you to make.
And presumably McDonnell is actually INVITED to these Church Halls or are you suggesting he breaks in thru the back door.
The thread on Margaret Ritchies election on politics.ie lasted for 4 posts before defering off into a discussion about Sinn Fein, says alot about how much people care about this outside SDLP supporters.
No John – SF will be there long after the bearded one has gone – they are too strong to disappear on the demise of one man – but as Medillen says – this is about the mediocrity that is the SDLP – and there irreversible path towards political oblivion.
FJH – Most would assume correctly all Protestants vote unionist except if they are being tactical as in W. Belfast (Hendron) and Foyle (Durkan).
However there is a small group of religious Protestants who are so put off by the sectarian issue that they fall victim to a wolf in sheep’s clothing saying he is an anti-sectarian nationalist.
I kid you not, they believe him.
John:
Is this the same FF that is in its worst position ever electorally that we’re talking about?
FF surely aren’t in their worst position electorally, they’re still in government. They’re in their worst position in the polls, perhaps.
CC
SF will be there long after the bearded one has gone – they are too strong to disappear on the demise of one man – but as Medillen says – this is about the mediocrity that is the SDLP – and there irreversible path towards political oblivion.
I’m not saying that they’ll disappear when Gerry Adams goes in disgrace. I’m suggesting that they’ll be damaged. If they’re as damaged as the DUP on the demise of Paisley then the SDLP will rise again. I mean you cannot be serious that you see this place as either Green or Orange into the future. It’s totally unnatural compared to the outside world and the centre will recover with the centre left leading the way in breaking down the barriers. You may say its wishful thinking and I would call your views pessimism.
CS
Was it worth the comment to try to make yourself seem so important? That’s why Alliance can really annoy just about everybody – too bloody smart Alec-y.
John ’666′ O’Connell, ‘Green and Orange into the future’ is not sustainable. It is our national flag with peaceful intent but political difference. Although, I wish to move to united forward looking country, it is every bit as sustainable as republicans and democrats, labour and conservative. This is the nature of politics, middle of the road politicians tend to get run over.
Medillen
It seems to be to me a case of “dib dib dob, dib dib dob.” You’re unable to think for yourself so the flag guides you to tell you who you are. You’re like a cub scout.
Jesus Christ died to end all that nonsense. Compassionate politics is the future.
John
This is an unnatural entity, the raison d-etre of its existence was to institutionalise sectarianism, it succeeded. So yes – until the demise of the border it is therefore not surprising that orange and green politics will endure – until the inevitable demise of the orange.
CC
Actually, when both communities share the same values, just different colours, and have different values to the rest of the world, particularly to the rest of Ireland then an independent state is the most likely outcome.
When it becomes just Green and Orange then Northern Ireland “the nation” will be the logical destination for the parties. An Isrealite nation will be founded and those lacking empathy will have won. We will see instability in the region and the obnoxious theology dominating matters.
When the flag wins, social democracy (Chritianity) loses and we go back to the Old Testament.
Mixing religion and politics is dangerous, as we know, so that includes you John. Simply because your particular political view is not in favour does not change that. I do not see the SDLP policies as compassionate politics at all, in fact the opposite, they are an upper middle class, right of centre, catholic establishment entity of the past.
Medillen
Are you on duty tonight, patrolling Slugger to see who you can find?
Upper middle class – is it that big?
Right – what evidence
Catholic establishment entity – what’s wrong with the Catholic Church?
Was it worth the comment to try to make yourself seem so important? That’s why Alliance can really annoy just about everybody – too bloody smart Alec-y.
No, I just wanted to point out you were talking bollocks. I suggest you stick to selling books.
Catholic establishment entity – what’s wrong with the Catholic Church?
Other than the fact that it essentially allowed its bishops to operate a protected paedophile ring ? Not a lot, I suppose.
Am I on duty?- I am blogging same as you, are you on duty? As maybe you don’t do conferences on a Sunday.
Take a look around you John at your SDLP colleagues, with a few exceptions, they are of a certain age, income bracket and right of centre view point. In my locality were the SDLP were traditionally strong, their involvement with some developers rivals that of the DUP. As for the Catholic Church, please…
CS
What about this for a title today – God is a Woman and the Future’s Female! Why Our Lady is really God, and Mark Durkan knows it, the unionists deny it, and Gerry Adams just doesn’t get it at all!
As for Alliance they’re just big girls blouses.
I rest my case.
Medillen
a certain age, income bracket and right of centre view point.
In my area they are spread over three generations, all income brackets and share moderate social democratic views.
But I know that Sinn Fein have big donors just as the SDLP have and that money is flowing to them from the business community as to the SDLP as will be the case while there are two parties with similar clout.
Catholic establishment entity – what’s wrong with the Catholic Church?
Well for starters, there is the SMALL fact that they profess to believe in God.
Amen to #23′s penultimate sentence.
What of the word ‘demise’ (#24)? Let’s hope instead for a transmutation. A real ‘shared future’ will not be founded on death. The vigour of a wild rootstock can energize many a genteel cultivar.
Of course there are certain bits of unpleasantness associated with ‘the orange’ whose demise civilized persons will welcome. Bear with me while I try to create an analogy.
Disparate persons and things are often close to each other in time. Grace Kelly was born in 1928, and Wyatt Earp died in 1929. Closer to home, Belfast School of Music was established in 1965, and the Northern Ireland Troubles began with the Malvern Street murders of 1966. Because of the Belfast School of Music, many thousands of children have enjoyed a high-class musical education. In the course of the last forty-odd years the School has built up a three-generation tradition, for many of its original pupils are now grandparents.
Would it be in order for grateful pupils of the School to assemble in their thousands, and to give an outdoor concert in a suitably large field? Of course it would.
Would it be in order for them to march to that field in their thousands? Of course it would, so long as they observed the proper legal procedures.
Would it be in order for them to march to Stormont in their thousands, and there to demand an input into the governance of Northern Ireland? Of course it would not. Only those who hold an electoral mandate may presume to take part in the governance of their country. Do twenty thousand musicians want to affect the workings of a Western democracy? Then they must either attach themselves to existing political parties, or set up their own political party.
If the musicians respond to these civilized facts by disturbing the public peace, they must expect to face the full weight of the law. What if they set up their own party? What if they win seats in elected assemblies? They are still obliged to keep the law.
Everything that I have said about former pupils of the School of Music applies equally to the Orange Order, whose members comprise a very small fraction of the unionist population. The Orange Order holds no elected mandate. Its members are all obliged to keep the law. Presently the Order is not preparing to march to Stormont, but in the past some of its members have walked on to the political chessboard, and a few of them have even demanded to be accorded the rights of queens.
Let us never again hear people cry, ‘GIVE US WHAT WE WANT, OR WE’LL WRECK THE PLACE!’ Any such people belong in the Sturmabteilung, and they should realize how quickly history may pass them by. The gold standard came to an end in 1933. Hitler neutralized the SA in 1934.
If Northern Ireland is to grow up and be taken seriously, there must be no more vulgar bullying. What is the difference in character between Violet Elizabeth Bott and a violent undisciplined bully? Zero.
There are thoroughly good things about the Orange Order that all civilized persons will be glad to know about. It is hard to deny the great geniality of Orange-based social life. The internal architecture of many Orange halls is notably beautiful. The wonderful artistry that is displayed in painted silk banners represents a most elegant aspect of unionist culture. And the oak-shelled goatskin-headed lambeg, which is already used on both sides of the political fence, should be brought into the orchestra for Verdi’s Requiem.
There is a better land ahead of us. A bit of adventurous geniality will help us on our journey. Already one UUP MP has been a guest at an SDLP event, and quite a while ago Margaret Ritchie addressed a UUP conference. Of course we can all fight with each other like ferrets in a sack at election-time, but at other times we should talk to each other like mature adults.
Scaramoosh
They’re a better Church now after all the scandals – more humble.
John
You previously wrote;
“The day will come when the phoney edifice of the republican movement will collapse and the delusional position of Gerry Adams, which he shares quite unbelievably now with the majority of the Nationalist population will unravel and the SDLP will be back in their natural position as leaders of the people again.”
can you put a timescale on this please?
You seem to know alot about the finances of another political party, which I doubt, you also assume I am a Sinn Fein supporter, but none the less. Can you tell what evidence there is of left of centre policies of the SDLP at local or central Government, specifics please?
Scaramoosh
How long is a piece of string?
Are you writing a book?
Medillen
HIgh rates- high public spending – left of centre – Derry City Council
Same goes for Margaret Ritchie’s department
Everything left of centre is supported at Westminster.
BTW SF donor who owned houses letted to SF MPs in London was millionaire from Derry. We know these things.
Derry City Council – high rates are due to an airport that is costing the city a fortune, high public spending -ask the rate payers that, I think you’ll find they disagree, especially those who had their recycling amenities threatened.
Left of centre my b******s!
What has Westminister got to do with anything, your party is irrelevant there, and soon to be even less relevant.
And now that you have got me going, Margaret Ritchie’s has done nothing in DSD to advance an agenda that was not there already. Cutting endless ribbons of projects that would have been opened by whatever minister happened to be there, and falling for the classic senior civil service trap of, as long as the minister looks good and is kept busy, then she won’t really want to know what we are doing. The UDA bravado was totally false, as she knew at the time and I cannot think of one policy initiative that Margaret Ritchie can call her own, can you?
Does anyone know what Margaret Ritchie’s stance s on Dominic Bradley’s / SDLP’s Irish language bill?
McDonnell gave it a few mentions and incorparated some Irish in his site, there was no evidence of this on Ritchie’s site.
Any insider knowledge??
Back to the original thread – the woman is a total lightweight by evidence of how she runs her ministerial portfolio and the battles she has lost on funding. She cannot make a decision without her SPAD so maybe the SDLP have gained two leaders instead of one – they will need all the help they can get.
Medillen
What’s your idea of left of centre? A people’s republic of Norn Iron?
Maybe she can learn to talk to the hand…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefan-sirucek/did-palin-use-crib-notes_b_452458.html
Muppet.
Sarah Palins answer to a question at her tea party shindig. Lunacy.
I think, kind of tougher to put our arms around, but allowing America’s spirit to rise again by not being afraid to kind of go back to some of our roots as a God fearing nation where we’re not afraid to say especially in times of potential trouble in the future here, where we’re not afraid to say, you know, we don’t have all the answers as fallible men and women so it would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country, so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again. To have people involved in government who aren’t afraid to go that route, not so afraid of the political correctness that you know – they have to be afraid of what the media said about them if they were to proclaim their alliance to our creator.
Good luck to Margaret Ritchie.
Sad day for the SDLP and in a way Margaret Ritchie will be the undertaker who will bury the party once and for all-
In your many years as a local Councillor she done nothing for her constituents in the Rowallane Area and the only time you would have seen her was at election time- And as a MLA for South Down nothing changed –
She has forgotten her roots and most of all the people who put her there – and over the past 12 months with expenses etc people aren’t stupid and politicians will pay the price –
Will the last person who leaves SDLP HQ in Belfast make sure to put the lights out
Do you remember the old Sandie Shaw song Puppet on a String – or I cant let Maggie Go
Margaret has always spoke about her respect for all traditions etc and building a new Ireland where all classes ,creeds would be embraced and treated as equals – as a Roman Catholic who has many friends in the Protestant community her stance with describing the Orange Order as sectarian and divisive around about the same time as Uachataran na h’Eireann Mary Mc Aleese was sitting down to tea with Orange men in Co Monaghan will cost her dear in the long term – If and when Eddie Mc Grady moves off the Westminster stage and she will contest South Down – her stance will cost many votes – those from the Unionists who backed Mc Grady will revert back to their own candidates and with a Strong Sinn Fein machine it will go to the wire- Interesting times ahead -