Spiteful Peter launches broadside at Nolan during Party Speech
Peter Robinson has used his Party Leader speech at the DUP Conference to make a particularly vindictive attack on the BBC Radio Ulster presenter, Stephen Nolan, including a jibe which could be interpreted as attacking the presenter for being overweight. Here’s the rather extraordinary text:
That’s why I am tired of listening to the professional nay sayers who seem intent on talking Northern Ireland and democratic politicians down. They criticise politicians but are never prepared to stand for office themselves. They are an authority on everything, but have a mandate for nothing. There’s one who comes on our radio every morning – well, at least those mornings his alarm clock is working. And while he’s eating his crisps and Mars bars (my emphasis) he’s either putting the worst possible construction on what politicians are trying to do – or encouraging others to do so.
Well, it’s easy to pick holes in other people’s work. It’s harder to pick up the gauntlet and do it yourself. It’s not the size of your jaws – it’s the size of your vote that gives you the right to speak for the people. Steven, you might have the biggest show in the country, but by the will of the people, we’ve the biggest vote in the country.
There is ‘history‘ between the Robinsons and Nolan. It was on Nolan’s morning programme that Iris Robinson made her remarkable comments about homosexuals.
Robinson’s line of attack is surprising as it assumes that the public can not appreciate for themselves the reasons why it is important to have a scrutinising media. Whether or not journalists have -or ever intend to- contest elections is really a moot point.
Coming so soon after The Irish News revealed that Peter Robinson had refused to co-operate with the paper for the past two years, it would appear that the Angry Man image Robinson had been seeking to jettison has never looked more fitting.
For example, I have heard some people complain about the type of some of the callers we have on the show. Every citizen, if they are acting within the law and within boundaries of taste and decency, should have access to the airwaves.
Trouble is that every citizen doesn’t get equal access to your show Stephen, hence the circular arguments with the same old same old views and opinions – going round and round.
“Dearie me, upset again are we?”
No Chris. Just interested at the apparent co-ordination of non-response. To borrow a phrase ‘it hasn’t gone away you know’
Hutz,
No, the “legislate against pensioner attacks” thing has been doing the rounds for quite some time. I recall mentioning it on Slugger a couple of years ago, as we seem to go through cycles like this where a bunch of attacks on elderly happen in or around the same time. There has been a parallel suggestion for legislation dealing with those specifically who target emergency services for attacks ie police/ambulance/fire/rescue.
Regarding: Robbo and locking up those who attack pensioners (Laudable and who would argue)
I believe he remarked that those who attack pensioners should pack there bags and away to prison.
Now I am not an expert on this issue but I have me doubts that if one were to turn up at one of the big houses (er, prison) with some well packed cases one might be making the wrong impression.
Note to Robbo : Its not the same as Iris doing a bunk to an establisment to avoid some short term embarassment and to wait until the heat has died down.
Yous all know that some one had to say it !
CS,
I know its been an issue but Nolan did devote alot of airtime to specific attacks and over a week or so and then the DUP announced the planned legislation.
My point is that the DUP appeared to jump on the Nolan Bandwagon when it suits them
Robbo’s got a fierce pair of testes on him altogether bad-mouthing Nolan given as the amply proportioned presenter never seems to have that truly desperately dull, mediocre Gregory Campbell off the air. Would that that could come to a permanent end and soon although Campbell and his anti-Englightenment ilk would be the first to accuse the BBC of systematic deeply embedded Fenianian were he not to be on whenever he felt like it.
@DC
“…. hence the circular arguments with the same old same old views and opinions – going round and round”
Sounds like another forum for discussion of politics and current affairs in Northern Ireland I know of
Lionel
It was in the 2011 DUP manifesto
“bring forward legislation to increase the maximum period of
imprisonment for offences involving violence or neglect directed against the elderly or vulnerable”