Ulster Unionists set to vote No tomorrow (and world does not fall apart)…
Hmmm… and that is news? I’ve been puzzled ever since reading this OdEd in the New York Times last week… Slugger’s understanding that the meeting with the dFM this afternoon (called at the request of the dFM) went roughly like this… (note this is a paraphrase, not precise reportage)…
dFM – so where are we at?Danny Kennedy – un-helpfulness of the “3 days to sort themselves out” comment at the weekend.
dFM – UUP dug a hole for itself and kept digging. UUP are now anti-Agreement.
Michael McGimpsey – UUP negotiated the Agreement and committed to powersharing.
dFM – Internal unionist in-fighting is threatening the institutions. All UUP media appearances mentioned dysfunctionality. Nolan loves that.
Empey – We are not anti-Agreement.
dFM – (rehearses an anti-Agreement argument.)
FC – We are not here to be lectured by you.
dFM – Then leave. (Shouted.)
Hmmm… I have to confess that I don’t get this. The DUP have been bending over backwards to get the UUs on board, even though the vote will go through tomorrow without any real controversy. Even George Bush has been dragged out to appeal to David Cameron not to wreck a deal tht the UUs are simply not in a position to wreck…
As they pointed out on the Now Show, political impotence is the order of the day from Washington to a post election Westminster government. And it really matters that the UUs don’t buy the functionality of the current arrangements at Stormont?
Not convinced it does…
“Wee will not progress without the UUP supporting this agreement”…
not sure why you put that in quotations because Nigel didnt say that, try listenting to the program first of all
and then read the Hillsborough agreement re: the powers of a justice minister and their relationship to the assembly.
Harry
I am beginning to think that you actually believe what you are typing here.
Were you at the Executive meeting last night? Did you get a sense that DUP are in full agreement?
Read the Hillsborough document and then come back and explain to me how ‘Labour changed the legislation after the agreement was made’.
Some people never learn…..
But do keep spinning.
Harry J,
This is how the BBC reported the Dodds’ opinion; which bit did they get wrong?
The DUP’s Nigel Dodds has said his party would not be able to proceed with the devolution of justice if it does not get Ulster Unionist backing.
Mr Dodds was asked what his party would do if UUP MLAs vote against or abstain when the matter is put to a cross-community assembly vote on 9 March.
He told BBC Radio Ulster’s Inside Politics show it would be a “serious situation”.
“I don’t think we would then see progress happening,” he added
imaprtial the ST ANDREWS agreement stated that there should be a first minister from the largest party of the largest designation
when the legislation went through it was the largest party.
THe role of the Justice minister is clear, what is also clear is that you never read the hillsborough agreement.
The leglislation giving powers for the justice minister will be enacted at stormont not westminster
The DUP’s Nigel Dodds has said his party would not be able to proceed with the devolution of justice if it does not get Ulster Unionist backing.
Mr Dodds was asked what his party would do if UUP MLAs vote against or abstain when the matter is put to a cross-community assembly vote on 9 March.
He told BBC Radio Ulster’s Inside Politics show it would be a “serious situation”.
“I don’t think we would then see progress happening,” he added
……………………………
again listen to the whole interview not what the BBC throws out. the context is community confidnece, its clear the UUP only want to shaft the DUP they could care less about what is happenein in the community
Nigel at NO point siad it would NOT happen
HJ
Ever heard of splitting hairs?
The leglislation giving powers for the justice minister will be enacted at stormont not westminster
Now you are just doing your comedy stand-up routine.
impartial im really not sure how this thing works, westminister will transfer the power for justice and policing to stormont , the exact powers of the minister will be leglisated here. Didnt you know that?
Debate is live here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/northern_ireland/newsid_8167000/8167445.stm
Harry
Those powers and responsibilities (and all associated caveats) are to be decided by DUP and SF AFTER Westminster passes responsibility over. Do you really believe that this is possible?
If you do then can I have some of what you are taking – I would like to live in wonderland too.
Iris appears to be the forgotten ghost at the table. And she was the catalyst for the DUP cave in at the Hillsborough ‘staging post’.
How is the police investigation in to the financial scandals going I wonder?
A more cynical person than me might think Iris (and any investigation)is being kept out of the way until after the election.
Conquistador [4]
The reason the snowmen in the DUP, are now ‘on board’ with PR might have more to do with worries that if they annoy the PM[s] by bringing the deal down, they might not get the elections they were expecting but a swift return to Direct [or indirect Rule]. That would mess up their expenses and fat salaries. These turkeys won’t vote for Christmas.
Driftwood,
in fairness……theres a lot of stuff where Justice has been put on hold or simply been abolished in the name of the greater good of the Peace Process.
It has been and still is my position that the Creative Ambiguity (or as we used to say “downright lies”) cannot be the cornerstone of anything worthwhile.
The whole nonsense of two tribes getting two messages is simply unworkable.
Which is why I am at best “neutral” on the whole sham falling apart.
Vanguard……they havent gone away you know.
Those of us a certain age might remember Bill Craigs Vanguard as a bit sinister. Craig himself was oft desribed as a Mussolini figure. Essentially those rallies were a bit scary. And meant to be.
The VUP was to the right (a breakaway mostly) of the old UNionist Party and after its decline would have been a footnote in history books except for the rehabilitation of former members into the UUP.
Post Molyneaux, the rise of TRimble, Empty and even Burnside points to something approaching “entryism” or even something slightly more er…….spooky.
So Empty succeeds Trimble……so what exactly is going on. Other figures like Cobain and McNarry seem to have been pushed forward at the expense of the more rural kinda conventional unionist politician.
Was Vanguard set up by the “Spooks”?
Is it still a party within a party?
Or have I just read too much graffiti?
FJH,
Just a case of reading too much into Private Eye.
But a good point on VUP ex members in UUP. There are more at lower levels.
Can I add that while I admire the way you have irritated every professional journalist on Slugger O’Toole, I have less admiration for your reticence at confirming that your background is journalistic and/or political.
I am not of course expecting you to reveal your identity but as you are one of the better informed (and frankly nastier) people round here, it would at least be respectful to the other punters.
No offence.
Smokey:
Any evidence for claiming that proff. journalists write here? Certainly does not seem obvious to me.
(anoraks yes).
re identity: why try to out anybody – surely the fun of something like Slugger is people can manipulate their identities as they might otherwise find difficult to do?
FJH: stick to your guns.
granni trixie..thanks. appreciate that.
and excellent observation on “professional” journalists.
Smokey1970…that seems a little odd to post. I am only here about six weeks or so and I dont actually recollect seeing your screen name before. So its an odd choice for a first(?) post.
And of course how could I possibly take offence at your observation that I am “frankly nastier” than than most people. Who could possibly take offence?
I have a screen name to protect my identity. I have a “neutral” (and very stupid) screen name so that there is no overt reference to politics.
Its counter productive merely to rub people up the wrong way by calling myself “Billy1690″ or “Pearse1916″.
And I dont think its disrespectful to anyone to withold information that is personal.