As noted, UCUNF have selected 17 out of 18 candidates for the Westminster election. Only the decision on South Antrim is outstanding.
Slugger (me and people I talk to) has been informed, via three separate sources, this is due to concerns from the Conservatives on the alleged homophopbia of current frontrunner Adrian Watson.
John Laird (Lord Laird of Artigarvan) is unionism’s jester. His memoir A Struggle To Be Heard ” by a True Ulster Liberal” (from Slugger’s shop on Amazon here) might serve more as a heavy stocking filler than anybody’s idea of a main present. In it he wears the masks of comedy and tragedy to turn the [...] read our review »
World by Storm has a nice piece up on the IRA’s role in helping MK, the armed wing of the ANC, in the 1980s. In particular he sees a strange alchemy at work there: …if one can think of a clearly legitimate contemporary struggle it was that against apartheid and it is to the credit [...] read our review »
Adrian’s repented, he loves the “gay community” now.
What could the tories possibly object to now?
and i thought that when miss robinson left sex would not be a topic in this election.
So you posted half of a rumour, eh?
Well I can confirm that is indeed true, however the part you are missing is that the Unionists rejected the Tory nominee, so instead of your non story (which was first talked about weeks ago) the real story is what happens now.
Justin,
Thanks for confirming/expanding on the story. Perhaps, while in the mood, you could name the rejected Tory nominee?
Are you telling us that the Tories have finally found the limit? That we’ve finally transcended duck-houses, moat-clearance and mortgage-flipping?
So Watson is more contaminated than … say … Nadine Dorries? More repulsive than … say … a Latvian fascist? Less people-friendly than … say … the perfect, gentle knight “Sir” Nicholas Winterton? More likely to tell a racist joke than the fragrant “Lady” Ann Winterton?
He must have serious personal-freshness problems, then.
Is the pink vote realy that powerful?, as for his reasons for saying that he would not have wanted gay men in his b&b because his 14yo daughter served breakfast there, As opposed to what men who like females.
Malcolm,
I was assuming they’d found a cynical way to get another of their candidates on the list over righteous anger.
Then again, they may have suddenly found a gay agenda and decided to test it out in lovely south Antrim.
What a stupid thought..I’m going with cynical.
do they serve breakfast at bed at this b and b,if not whats the problem.
So in the UUP world homophobia is very bad and sectarianism is ok.
Glad we got that sorted out then.
As “Driftwood” pointed out on another thread, several of this UUP lot are Athiest. So we can look forward to them publicising their Athiesm which might actually get them extra votes from other athiests.
Yet more realistically this would cost them votes in the core UUP supporting community…..who dislike Athiests almost as much as they dislike Gays and Catholics.
Perhaps, while in the mood, you could name the rejected Tory nominee
Perhaps I shouldn’t… but it’s Margaret McVeigh
Not sure whether Watson was really such a problem after he withdrew his remarks.
But it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a third candidate that is acceptable to both sides.
Justin do you think that another UUP candidate will have to be used, including possibly UUP candidates from neighbouring constituencies?
Slug, rule nothing out. I am hearing this week there will be a number of people approached.
You are of course correct to speculate that a well known UU representative from neighbouring constitsuency might like to set his sights beyond Stormont.
However the word is the leadership are none too keen on that idea
Justin Case @ 10:52 PM:
Aw, c’mon! This is getting ridiculous! If that’s true, the UUP has just dumped on an excellent (if inexperienced) candidate with good NI connections, a prominent charity-worker, a figure in London CofE circles, a religious-affairs broadcaster, and — perhaps most significant — a member of the Tory Executive for the Cities of London and Westminster!
Not the way to win friends and influence people
Justin,
Thanks for that. Agree with Malcolm I’m finding it hard to understand how she was rejected in a bunfight over Watson.
Malcom, yup I double checked before I posted it.
I don’t know her but from what you are saying does she live in London? What is her connection to Antrim?
Margaret McVeigh
Nevin
Thanks for the link to biography. WTF were UUP thinking rejecting her for Watson?!? Have they really just been playing a game to select only their own members rather than the best candidate for the seat? Surely they aren’t that mad?
Sounds like the uup in sa in selecting Watson over McVeigh are running there own unity candidate, oor willie.
IIRC there was a major row over David Burnside’s assembly seat back when he was stepping down, a year or so ago. I seem to recall that Watson was his favourite to take over. Presumably it was these homophobic remarks that did the damage there.
What the Conservatives are probably worried about is how Watson’s selection would allow the rest of us to keep reminding the world about how the UUP hasn’t changed because it keeps running homophobic bigots in elections, ratified by the Tories. And I’d certainly make sure Labour and the Lib Dems were both aware of unsavoury company kept by the Conservatives.
Malcolm,
Not the way to win friends and influence people
This is what Unionism does. Anybody with friends and influence is probably disloyal.
Watson’s selection would allow the rest of us to keep reminding the world about how the UUP hasn’t changed because it keeps running homophobic bigots
There’s a libellous statement if there was one.
I wonder whos lawyers will be on the phone first- Watsons or Reggies?
wonder whos lawyers will be on the phone first- Watsons or Reggies?
Posted by Justin Case… on
I agree the excuses and statements being put out for rejecting adrian watson are disgraceful.
There’s a libellous statement if there was one.
Watson is on record for making homophobic remarks.
Bigotry – ah yes, where to start. I wonder did the Conservative Muslims make themselves aware of the part where a party member said opposed the building of a mosque, saying Muslims were “out to wipe out Christianity”, this when a local imam had been intimidated out of his house by racists. Ah yes, and then there was that matter of a UUP member complaining about the appointment of a Muslim head of religion and the BBC.
The BBC frequently comes in for similar criticisms, like McNarry’s GAA coverage.
But I suppose you’re right. The UUP would never say anything horrible about someone else’s beliefs or culture, ever, and are very nice. Please don’t sue me.
Companero, muslims are the whipping boys du jour, the last socially acceptable bigotry. Now perhaps if Mr Watson disliked gay muslims only….
CS
I could have sworn some Alliance party members said comments that could be construed as homophobic when homosexual civil unions were first held here.
Stones and glass houses come to mind.
Companero, muslims are the whipping boys du jour, the last socially acceptable bigotry. Now perhaps if Mr Watson disliked gay muslims only….
Posted by RepublicanStones on Mar 22, 2010 @ 09:59 PM
Muslims have been known to stone the odd gay to death