Thursday, June 07, 2007
McGrady to run again in South Down…
Mark Devenport picks up a snippet from the Mourne Observer, to the effect that the SDLP’s incumbent, Eddie McGrady (72) is going to run in the next Westminster election. Mark suggests that this will hardly upset his heir apparent, Margaret Ritchie, since it gives her another term to settle in and compete for public space with her capable Sinn Fein rival, Minister of Education Catriona Ruane.
Mick Fealty @ 10:05 AM
It’s not like anyone will notice.
He is currently the 3rd worst member for attending (excluding the dead and the shinners). Only Clare Short and Tony Blair attend less.
13.8%, easy money for Eddie.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 10:44 AMWestminster is irrelevant
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 10:45 AMSo is Eddie.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 10:48 AMFrank-
“He is currently the 3rd worst member for attending”
Better than Sinn Féin’s 0%.
Who cares-
“Westminster is irrelevant”
To a large extent, yes, now that we have devolved government. However, it provides a useful tool on occasion to bring issues directly before the British Government in a public forum. It is also useful insofar as many NI matters are still within the remit of that parliament.
Paul O-
“So is Eddie.”
21,557 South Down residents would beg to differ. But why bother listening to them- to hell with democracy, eh?
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 11:26 AMFrank
“Westminster is irrelevant”
Policing & Justice?
Taxation & Fiscal Policy?
The Barnet Formula?
Defence & National Security?
Electoral Law?Sooo irrelevant.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 11:32 AMI didn’t say anything about relevance. I pointed out Eddie is a poor attender only barely ahead of the dead and abstentionists. His last two terms have finished on less than 5% attendance.
As I said, easy money if you can get it. If he’s running again it certainly won’t be on his record.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 11:42 AMSo then BonarLaw, tell me which issue in your list would McGrady or any other NI politician have the power to influence? Those matters are all decided by the government of the day under a Presidential PM, not by the likes of McGrady no matter what unionists have to say about democracy in the ‘Mother of Parliaments’.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 11:44 AMWho cares-
“Those matters are all decided by the government of the day under a Presidential PM, not by the likes of McGrady no matter what unionists have to say about democracy in the ‘Mother of Parliaments’.”
So should parties who aren’t in government just not turn up to their respective parliaments? Will SF not bother turning up to the Dáil given that their paltry showing of four TDs may not even get speaking rights? Should Dawn Purvis not bother attending Stormont?
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 11:53 AMAs a voter I would be pretty pissed off if my MP spent all their time in Westminster. However I would expect them to attend when it mattered.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 11:55 AMCome on El Mat, its ok to admit that McGrady’s attendence is very poor and something he should address. And the point has been made on this forum to you before that the SF non-attendence is made clear to the electorate before the election and is on (whatever you may think of them) principled grounds.
I’m not attacking you here - just suggesting that the malaise in the SDLP is due to the image of people resting on laurels. And I am afraid that Eddie is one of the first to spring to mind.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:05 PMIts more bad news for Grizzler as SF just shaded it in South Down at the assembly elections and looked to be taking the Westminister seat with Catriona Ruane.
McGrady didn’t run then & is considered unbeatable in the generals, commanding a whopping majority over the nearest SF candidate- this is the last thing they wanted to hear.
It appears the Stoops are high on the smell of SF blood after their Southern Flop....
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:07 PM‘So then BonarLaw, tell me which issue in your list would McGrady or any other NI politician have the power to influence? Those matters are all decided by the government’
Absolutely right Who Cares you succiently make the agruement in support of the big UK parties organising here. The irish nationalist and ulster parochial (so called unioinst) parties have no influence at WestminsterPosted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:09 PMSo what if Eddie holds on another 5 years (doing nout for his contituents)? Why do you think SF are in with a shout of taking it? Because of Eddie’s poor performance. Seriously guys!!! The SDLP HAVE to realise and very soon that it is time for new faces. The longer Eddie hangs around the stronger the SF position becomes.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:19 PMOn attendence, Bob makes a good point particular for the Unionist side of the Westminster House. Most Ulster MPs, with the noteable exception of Sylvia Hermon tend to show for the NI debates and take little or nothing to do with issues relating to GB. This, one would presume, is less of a problem for nationalist like McGrady, who as Frank has pointed out is likely to be fighting an abstentionist candidate.
You can check out what he has actually been doing at theyworkforyou.com.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:33 PMGum-
“So what if Eddie holds on another 5 years (doing nout for his contituents)?”
Really? So why the massive personal vote in contrast to the current tide against the SDLP?
As for the SDLP at Westminster, they’ve been doing some very good work over there and targetting their efforts efficiently rather than wasting time that is better spent on the ground at home- one example is their success in getting the OTR rubbish dropped ;)
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:35 PMWhatever anyone here thinks of Eddie McGrady, he is extremely popular in his constituency and is the SDLP’s only chance of holding on to this seat(hence todays announcement).
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:38 PMMick-
I would assume unionist voters would prefer their MPs to be at home rather than debating ‘GB issues’ of no relevance to people here (regardless of whether they think this place is as British as Finchley). Surely their most effective modus operandi is precisely to use Westminster to get results on NI issues and the few UK-wide issues that affect people here instead of wasting their time spouting hot air on council tax issues in deepest Shropshire.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:39 PMCan someone tell me if anyone is leading the SDLP anymore or if anyone has any kind of vision for it’s future?
Allowing Mc Grady to stand again will do nothing to halt it’s relentless slide into history.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:46 PMWell El Mat, I guess that’s a matter for unionists themselves to speak to, but I would have thought the MLAs would give them some constituency cover. STV makes constituency work much more important to them than MPs, who if they are well liked can be damned near impossible to shift.
On a South Down level: any one who doubts Dec’s line on this, doesn’t know the constituency. McGrady’s popularity (and Ruane’s high media profile) is, to some degree, Ritchie’s weakness. To that extent, I don’t think Devenport is in the least mistaken in his analysis.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:52 PMPoor, poor El Mat he just doesnt understand that Stormont is merely devolved from Westminster.
Westminster as Bonar Law points out decides on a range of issues - most notably taxation but also (effectively) on social security benfeits. Not to mention the War, etc. These are UK issues not Gb issues.As for ‘the few UK-wide issues that affect people here’ - think you’ve been reading to much nationalist propaganda mate!
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:54 PMSince the days of Parnell and the Irish Party Westminster has had it’s rules drawn up in such a way as to exclude small parties from power. Unionists were able to fool themselves because they were ‘useful idiots’ for the Conservative Party. Now that they have become too hot to handle they will find themselves as ruthlessly ignored as Irish nationalists have always been.
Just another little step on the way towards realising that the only sensible way forward is towards a reunited Ireland with a PR system in which the post-unionist community would be able to exercise real influence.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 12:54 PMIt seems about time that someone trotted out the old classic:
The only difference between the nationalist parties is that Sinn Fein abstain from Westminster in principle, the SDLP abstain in practice…
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 01:48 PMMight be a smart move - cant absolutely make up my mind.
The more exposure Ruane gets the more I feel she will prove to be distinctly underwhelming. Fine for a few whispered platitudes, but not much cop when she’s put under real pressure IMO.
Not saying that Ritchie is any big shakes either, but shades it over her opponent, and doesnt have the same problems in her brief. McGrady mops up significant swathes of unionist votes and should still be a good shout to retain the seat, provided there isn’t a swing against him for being seen to hold on too long.
The SDLP should hold Foyle and S. Down on that basis and possibly still take S. Belfast as I think it will be time after next before unionism retakes that one. Being seen to have halted any slide and possibly look towards growing again in Assembly terms if/when the gloss comes off SF should be no bad thing at all from their point of view.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 01:52 PMElvis-
“Poor, poor El Mat he just doesnt understand that Stormont is merely devolved from Westminster...These are UK issues not Gb issues.”
Erm, I was responding directly to Mick’s comment about “issues relating to GB”. Read the thread. Apart from that, have you never heard of the Midlothian Question? Presumably not. Pop along to Wikipedia, there’s a good lad.
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 02:00 PMEl Mat
I take it you mean West Lothian?
Maybe you should join Elvis over at Wikipedia....?
Posted by on Jun 07, 2007 @ 02:22 PM
