“They’ve got sheds big as bars, they’ve got boilers of gold…”

Just this… https://mobile.twitter.com/connal99/status/810880867371483136/photo/1?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=phkelly&utm_content=813531203781488640 –  via TKMaxx Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

All I want for Christmas is a better road to Belfast

As a Saffron now living west of the Bann all I really want for Christmas is the upgrading of the A6. Which Christmas though? Being a heavy commuter of some years I know how hours spent in a car with just coffee and bad podcasts can affect quality of life, time spent with family and general health and wellbeing. Public transport with WiFi helps but any time that can be knocked off bus or car journey times would be a …

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“More important, though, is to never forget the monstrous things that can be done by apparently affable family men, who write poetry and enjoy fishing.”

With former Sinn Féin MLA, Daithí McKay [now a Slugger contributor… – Ed], speculating elsewhere that the, as yet unspecified, illness that caused the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister to pull out of December’s NI Executive Office trip to China at the last minute may force him to step down in 2017, Eilis O’Hanlon takes a pre-emptive look at Martin McGuinness’ “mixed legacy“. McGuinness has been lucky. Adams is widely mocked for denying that he was ever in the IRA. McGuinness was …

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What to look out for in 2017….

2016 was a fascinating year in politics with an election, Brexit and the US Presidential race. Now we are near the end of the year, I thought I would take a look ahead to see what else could surprise us in 2017. (This list is by no means definitive, if I have missed anything put it in the comments section below). Article 50- The Prime Minister has said she will activate Article 50 by the end of March 2017. Look …

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RHI Scheme and the sector it could have helped.

On Christmas Eve, the Irish News Political Correspondent, John Manley had an interesting story in the paper about the RHI scheme and the sectors that it could have helped. He reports; Deti’s delayed launch of the regional RHI in 2012 came not long after the Stormont-sponsored Agri-Food Strategy Board set out its plan to increase exports of beef, dairy, pork and poultry. The plan was supported by then First Minister Peter Robinson, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Agriculture Minister Michelle …

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An election would be an abuse of democracy. Knuckle down after the holiday and learn how to do modern politics.

Even with a fairer wind than we experienced since 1998 , it was always going to be difficult to reconcile  natural contention in politics with good cross community government. If all-party government worked well, the Assembly would have very little to do. If government failed, it would only amplify the differences. The select committees were supposed to supply critical scrutiny but  lacked skills and were too often the creatures of the dominant party.  In an Executive governing largely by rival …

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“Red, white and blue” unionism: An ideological nationalism of its own

Irish unification and Scottish independence both ultimately involve a constitutional exit from the United Kingdom, but the northern context of Irish unity differs markedly from the Scottish question. The debate surrounding the 2014 independence referendum was no romanticised notion of Scotland the brave sending proud Edward’s army homeward tae think again, rather it was a rational scrutiny of Scotland’s constitutional future. Alex Salmond said to Scots that they would be £1,000 richer in an independent Scotland and Danny Alexander returned …

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Department for Communities cuts funding for the Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme

Some news just in from the Department for Communities, under the leadership of the DUP’s Paul Givan. The Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme enabled at least 100 people a year to attend summer Irish language classes in the Donegal gaeltacht. The Líofa programme was set up by former culture minister, Carál Ní Chuilín. The DfC announced the cut in an email from the Líofa office. It was sent to the boards of the gaeltacht colleges on 23 December. The report goes …

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A great song from Killard House for Christmas…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvUMDp-snTI Music by Leonard Cohen, words adapted for Christmas, marvellous singing from Killard House School Choir in Donaghadee and outstanding soloist Kaylee Rogers… And, a video that’s currently making waves in the US. H/T Ruarai! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Slugger makes another global list of good online things (so lend us your talents, give us your money)

I never know what to make of online awards and rankings other than to be surprised when Slugger continues to make them. Reader site Feedspot puts us at 70 amongst English language pol blogs, and 17 in the UK. My friend John Arovosis who runs the America Blog (No 58) once jokingly said to me that the best way to have a really successful blog is to start in 2002. In fact it was, I think the third or fourth …

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Soapbox: Arlene Foster Was Never a Suitable First Minister

The exclusion motion on Arlene Foster focussed on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal.  I would argue, however, that Mrs Foster has a track record beyond RHI that shows she was never suitable to be our First Minister. The potential £250m clean-up costs highlighted in 2013 by the Mills Report into illegal waste dumping in Northern Ireland I believe can be traced back to Arlene Foster’s decision when Environment Minister, not to create an independent Environmental Protection Agency (iEPA).  In …

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#BlueLabour engagement may be crucial to defending heartlands like #Copeland?

Fascinating development yesterday when Jamie Reed, a fervent critic of the current leadership of the UK Labour, announced he was leaving politics and his Copeland seat in the very remote north-west of England. Many of us will have passed by the constituency on our way to and from Stranraer, but unless you holiday in the western Lake District or have family there, it’s likely few of us have ever been. It starts inland in Keswick spreading out towards the sea …

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If the 2016 Assembly election had had five seats per constituency…

There has been some speculation about a possible early election for the Assembly. While I personally am sceptical – the institutions have a habit of creaking on through – it’s worth noting that all future elections, including an early one if called before 2021, will be for an Assembly with five seats in each of the 18 constituencies rather than six. (The new boundaries for 17 seats, currently being prepared, won’t kick in for some time yet.) To see who …

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Four lessons from the Opposition’s failed RHI attempt at political Regicide…

So the grave consequences of the RHI scandal is to be an election, hints Alex Maskey. After Arlene publicly spurned Martin’s friendly advice that she should step aside whilst a judge-led inquiry gets stuck into investigating her ministerial inadequacies Any new election would run on five seat constituencies, something that’s likely to cause more damage to the smaller parties than the two in government. But just ask yourself what would such an election decide: and it will tell you something important about this …

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SNP pressure to stay in the single market boosts the UK case. Why not champion these ideas for Northern Ireland?

Nicola Sturgeon herself admits there are challenges in the SNP’s proposals to keep Scotland within the single market if the rest of the UK is without. The generous view of the paper Scotland’s Place in Europe is that at least it sets out a position, which is more than the than the UK government has done so far. Witness Theresa May’s stonewalling performance before the Commons Liaison Committee yesterday and the Guardian’s sketch of it. Furthermore the Scottish case could …

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The Arlene factor: her abrasive personality is part of a tradition that has had its day

Anger is a factor often overlooked in politics.   Les Enragés were the militants who spoke up vituperatively  for the poor in the French Revolution. Jihad is the product of demented rage.  Dispossession  or the threat of it is often the  justification for anger.  Fear and insecurity are  close relatives.  Arrogance thinly concealing both is its bedfellow. Anger has been fundamental in our politics and remains an expression of our contested differences from the streets to the pulpit and the debating …

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The Problem of Spotting an RHI Application Peak

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been many comments from officials and political representatives about the RHI spike in the 10 weeks from early September 2015 to November 2015.  Continually quoted is that 984 applications out of 1,946 came in during this three month period and that this spike was unprecedented and impossible to predict!  Was it really? The GB RHI has tiering and degression. This means there has been continuous review and adjustment to the rates paid …

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